The Management of Olabisi Onabanjo University has reiterated its commitment to improving the welfare of students throughout their stay in the University. The hint was dropped by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunde during the formal presentation of 29 sets of modern Public Address System (PAS) to the University by the outgoing 2018/2019 Students Union Executives under the leadership of Comrade Afolabi Akinbo, popularly called Kempez. The event, which was held at the ICAN Model Lecture Hall in the Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences, witnessed the attendance of Management staff, some distinguished members of the University Senate and students who could not hide their feelings, as reflected in the praises and shouts of ecstasy that greeted every moment of the event.
Giving his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Ganiyu Olatunde, ably represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Deji Agboola, did not only commend the outgoing students leaders for the enviable gestures extended to the University in the interest of the entire students, but for also deeming it fit to add to the existing modern communication facilities already in-use at the various lecture rooms in the University. The gesture, he said symbolizes good leadership traits worthy of emulation by the current and future leaders, especially, the youth at both micro and macro levels. He, therefore, reaffirmed the commitment of the University Management in its resolve not only to continue providing an enabling environment for effective teaching-learning process, but to also facilitate and sustain the tempo of supporting philanthropic gestures from within and outside the University, for its development.
According to him, “Management of this University is committed to improving every aspect of students’ welfare, ranging from conducive learning environment, provision of modern facilities for learning, well-secured environment for students’ habitation, deployment of ICT facilities for ease of registration and academic transcripts etc”. Speaking further, the Vice-Chancellor revealed that several administrative steps and programmes had been carried-out in the recent past, to insulate staff and students from social hazards and crimes. These, according to the University helmsman, included provision of CCTV camera on the campus, constitution of Sexual Harassment Committee, Awareness Programme against Suicide and Related Crimes etc, adding that arrangements had been concluded by the University Management to replace projectors in all the lecture theatres with interactive boards. He also noted that in line with the global standard in environmental sanitation, the University, with the assistance of TETfund, has just completed the construction of three (03) toilet buildings with stand-by water system at different locations on the Main Campus, for the use and convenience of students.
Speaking further, Professor Olatunde revealed how the Management had prioritized the health of both staff and students through different policies and programmes bordering on both preventive and curative measures, through routine medical screening, in order to detect ailments early . The Vice-Chancellor added that the University Management had fully assumed the administration and maintenance of the Youth Friendly Centre, which was sited in the University premises, through the collaborative efforts of MTN and NACA since 2012, in the overall interest of the students. According to him, “an administrative staff was appointed for the Centre while projects and programmes from the Centre have been severally funded by the University”.
These, he said, had “boosted the activities and functionality of the Centre in achieving its objectives of focusing more on the youths in preventing the scourge of HIV/AIDS, by encouraging and motivating them to voluntarily present themselves for counselling and testing in a friendly and non-threatening environment, through peer education strategy”. Professor Olatunde, thereafter, advised students to shun all vices, be of good behaviour and give academic excellence a priority during their stay on campus.
In his speech, the Acting Dean, Students Affairs, Dr. S. A. Oladunjoye who commended the Students Leaders, especially the outgoing President of the Students Union, Mr. Afolabi Akinbo, for their good leadership styles throughout their stay in office, also enjoined them to continue to be good ambassadors of the University. He disclosed that in spite of the youthful exuberance that characterizes student unionism in the nation’s higher education institutions, the outgoing set of leaders distinguished themselves as paragon of virtues in leadership. Dr. Oladunjoye emphasized that the level of maturity and cooperation enjoyed by the Students Affairs Office during the outgoing administration was not only laudable but worthy of emulation by up-coming Students Leaders. The Dean noted that the Mr. Akinbo led Executive did not lose focus of ensuring the welfare of their colleagues on all campuses of the University.
In his response, the outgoing Students Union President, Mr. Afolabi Akinbo, who could not hide his feelings on the level of supports compromises, and tolerance he enjoyed from the University Management towards making sure the welfare of his colleagues was catered for, seized the opportunity to appreciate the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde and his team in facilitating the implementation of his campaign promises to the students. He added that the Students Affairs Office under the leadership of the Ag. Dean, Dr. S. A. Oladunjoye, also deserved commendation, considering the level of tolerance and guidance availed the Students Union Exco throughout their tenure. Mr. Akinbo further noted that the Ag. Dean actually played the roles of “loco parentis” inspite of the formal relationship existing between the Students Union and the Office of the Students Affairs.
While equally expressing his profound gratitude to his colleagues for the level of cooperation extended to him from all campuses of the University, the 2018/2019 Students Union President enjoined the students to keep identifying with the Students Union leadership and extend similar gestures to the incoming Executive for sustainable good leadership. Mr. Akinbo, who further enjoined the students to always dress well to avoid harassment and make sure their registration documents are submitted at the appropriate units of the University, stressed the need for his colleagues to shun violence, but embrace dialogue with the concerned parties through consultation before confrontation on every issue that bothers on their welfare. He submitted by strongly advising his colleagues to always protect and guide jealously the University facilities and equipment put in place for the use of the students including the sets of public address system being donated by his team.
The highlight of the event was the formal handing-over of the twenty-nine sets of modern Public Address System donated by the outgoing Mr. Afolabi Akinbo (a.k.a Kempez) led Students Union Executive to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde. In the entourage of the Vice-Chancellor were the Dean, Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences, Professor R. O. C. Somoye, the Director, General Nigerian Studies (GNS), Professor Afolabi Oladoja, and the Ag. Dean, Students Affairs, Dr. S. A. Oladunjoye, as well as other University functionaries.
