Alumni Rift: UNILORIN VC Unveils Unity Convention Committee 

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, has unveiled the Alumni National Unity Convention Planning Committee to plan and organise a national unity convention by July/August this year.

A statement by the institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, on Saturday said that this is sequel to the resolution of the lingering differences between the three contending factions of the alumni association at a stakeholders’ meeting convened at the instance of the Vice-Chancellor.

Akogun added that Egbewole’s intervention was informed by the admonition of the court handling the case, which called on the Vice-Chancellor to resolve the lingering crisis in the alumni.

Inaugurating the Convention Planning Committee last Wednesday, Egbewole said its mandate is to put in place a brand-new alumni association that would be partners in progress with the university management.

Members of the Unity Convention Planning Committee according to the statement include Mr Oyediran Oloyede and Mutiu Olaleke Agboke from the Engr. Iswat Lawal Group; Dr Wale Fasakin and Nesta Taiwo Oluwatoba, representing the Dr Wale Fasakin Group; Mrs Feyikemi Ayoola Egbeyemi and Mr Emma Ola Ehinmoro, representing Professor Jeleel Ojuade Interim Management, and the University of Ilorin will be represented on the committee by Prof. M. J. Saka and Dr O. K. Bello.

Egbewole charged the committee to come up with strategies and ensure that a well-coordinated unity convention, where all members of the alumni association would be carried along, is held.

It is expected that at the convention, a new leadership for the University of Ilorin Alumni Association would emerge.
The Vice Chancellor said since all three legs and the university management were represented in the committee, he expected that the committee would determine and appoint leaders that would be generally accepted by all members of the association and would compete favourably with any global alumni body.

While lamenting that the association has been in the news for the wrong reasons for too long, Egbewole, who is a Fellow of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice, said this has to stop.

He pointed out that his understanding of an alumni association is that it is a partner to the university and does not represent it, nor can it take over the running of the university.

With the calibre of people that make up the convention planning committee, the Vice Chancellor expressed the hope that the stakeholders will get it right.

Egbewole appreciated the sacrifices made by all the stakeholders, especially that all three contending forces agreed to the unity convention.

In his opening remarks at the earlier stakeholders meeting, the pioneer, national president of the association, Professor David Durosaro, thanked the Vice Chancellor for providing an avenue for the three legs to sit and rub minds, turn a new leaf, and move forward.

Durosaro said that no one was happy with the state of the alumni association, stressing that the association belongs to all and no single individual can be stronger or greater than the association.