The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde has been described as a workaholic and a role model for other Vice-Chancellors in Nigerian Universities because of his friendly and fatherly disposition to students. Making this assertion was the out-going President of the Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences Students Association (FAMS), Mr. Patrick Michael Ayobami who led the Association’s Executive to honour the Vice-Chancellor in his office on Thursday, 22nd August, 2019. Similarly, the President and the executive members of the Senior Staff Club, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye had earlier paid a curtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor in his office on Tuesday, 20th August, 2019.
The President of FAMS, Mr. Patrick Ayobami said the Vice-Chancellor was being honoured for “his outstanding performance and indefatigable contributions to the development of the University.”
Mr. Ayobami stated further that students were happy that they were able to enjoy a stable academic calendar and a conducive environment for learning. The President commended the efforts of the University Management for its innovation and promptness at addressing issues concerning students’ welfare. According to him, “the students of the Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences are pleased with the promptness at which the University Management was solving problems confronting us, especially, getting transport to town after finishing lectures late”.
Also speaking at the event, the Dean, Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences, Professor R. O. C. Somoye described the students “as the most vibrant and well behaved on campus”. He thanked them for honouring the Vice-Chancellor and advised them “to think more on what they would do for their Faculty and by extension the University”.
In his own response, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunde who was represented by the University Bursar, Mr. Semiu Makinde thanked the President, members of the executive and the entire students of the Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences for the honour bestowed on him. He said, “the award was the first of its kind coming from a Student Association since his assumption of duty as a Vice-Chancellor”. He advised them to be good ambassadors of their Faculty and project the image of the University well to the outside world. The Vice-Chancellor informed them that Management will not relent in its efforts to continue improving the welfare of its students. He added that the University would, as usual, place premium interest on security of lives and property on all the campuses without compromising the safety of individual members of the Community. The Vice-Chancellor further stated that the close circuit security cameras that were installed on the Main Campus for monitoring human activities on campus would soon be extended to other campuses of the University. Thereafter, members of the executive had a group photograph with the Vice-Chancellor while the President, Mr. Ayobami presented an award plaque to him.
In a related development, the newly elected President of the Senior Staff Club, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Mr. Biodun Williams and the new Executive Committee paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor, on Tuesday, 20th August, 2019 in Office.
The President and the Exco were received by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde and his Management team. Mr. Biodun Williams profusely thanked the Vice-Chancellor for creating time to receive his team despite the short notice given, amidst his very tight schedules. The President said that he was not surprised for the enthusiasm shown by the Vice-Chancellor to receive them because “our VC is a very social man and a good mixer who relates well with people”. Mr. Williams went on to explain that the Senior Staff Club is not a secret club nor an exclusive organization but a club, statutorily established by the University for members of Senior Staff to relax, drink, eat, exchange ideas and fraternize after a hectic day job. “It is a place where we ease tension, have serious debate on national issues and proffer solutions to some of the problems we have in the University and by extension the State and Nigeria”. He, therefore, called on Senior Staff members of the University who were yet to join the Club for the progress and development of the University as a transformational community. Thereafter, the President sought the indulgence of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde to give directives for the deployment of an internet router to the Club House. Mr. Wiiiams also requested for an office space to serve as a secretariat for the executive members. The President also pleaded with the Vice-Chancellor to direct the appropriate organ of the University to ensure regular weeding of the surroundings of the staff club in order to prevent reptiles and other dangerous insects from entering the Club house.
In his response, The Vice-Chancellor said he was excited to receive the newly elected President and members of its new exco in his office. Professor Ganiyu Olatunde congratulated Mr. Williams and his Executive Committee for being elected to direct the affairs of the Senior Staff Club for another two years. The Vice-Chancellor acknowledged how the staff club have, in the past, forwarded solutions proffering proposals to the Management. According to him, “the Club had always been coming up with brilliant ideas and information that have been very useful to the system”.
However, the Vice-Chancellor advised members to ensure that the club starts the construction of its permanent secretariat at the site provided for it at the Main Campus. Professor Olatunde said this could be achieved if club members were committed and desirous of building it. He suggested to the President and his members “to source for money from philanthropists, especially high net worth individuals in our society”.
Responding to the request of the President, the Vice-Chancellor said, the University would extend its internet services to the Senior Staff Club. He also said that a building would be released to the Club in due course to serve as its temporary secretariat. With regard to the bushy surroundings of the Club, Professor Ganiyu Olatunde directed the Head of the Environmental Unit to ensure that regular clearing and weeding of the Club surroundings are done.
Thereafter, the Vice-Chancellor assured Mr. Biodun Williams that from time to time, he will be visiting the Club alongside, members of the University Management.
