By Rotimi Agboluaje
He was headhunted by Governor Seyi Makinde without his knowledge. The governor narrowed down the headhunt to Prof. Olanrewaju Olaniyan, having convinced that the Economics Professor ticked all the boxes to carry out the onerous pioneering work at the Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo Town .
Since his appointment on August 09, 2023, as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of  the specialised  university , Prof. Olaniyan has been justifying the confidence reposed in him by the institution’s Visitor , Governor Makinde.
One year down the line, the VC has stamped his authority as an astute administrator and recorded some giant strides.  The groundswell of opinions among the university stakeholders is that the governor did not make a mistake in appointing the University of Ibadan scholar as the pioneer VC.
This was revealed during the activities marking his first year in office recently. In commemoration of the anniversary, the university lined up a series of activities. The events, which started with an interdenominational service conducted by the University Chaplain, Rev. Dr Solomon Ogunbunmi and the Chief Imam, Alh. AbdulFatai Adeleke, were followed by the commissioning of the projects executed within the last one year.
The projects included the rehabilitation and upgrading of twin lecture rooms of the Faculty of Specialised and Professional in Education Library; repair of the damaged roof and ceiling of the Faculty of Social Science block of eight classrooms; rehabilitation and upgrading of a 250-seater lecture hall to the Faculty of Social Science Library; rehabilitation and upgrading Old Biology Laboratory of the Faculty of Science Library; repair and renovation of the Integrated Science Laboratory; erosion control in front of Nursery and Primary School; rehabilitation and upgrading of a block of three classrooms with adjoining toilets at Isokun Campus; and others.
After commissioning the projects,  there was a distinguished lecture. The lecture, which was chaired by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Professor Ayoade Olayiwola Ogunkunle, had the former Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka as the lecturer. The lecture had the theme: “Benchmarking Graduate Output from Nigerian Universities”.
Delivering the lecture, Olayinka called for strengthening of learning at the secondary level to improve the quality of university education in Nigeria. The former vice chancellor emphasised that the quality of the input from the secondary schools would determine the performance of each university student.
While also harping on the need to improve the welfare of teachers to enhance their productivity, Olayinka said the quality of education depends on the quality of teachers.
 After a thorough analysis, the professor of Geophysics submitted that in comparison to the average for universities in the United Kingdom, the degree classification in the 12 selected Nigerian Universities is lower.
He disclosed that among the 12 Nigerian universities, the general trend in all the six public universities studied is that the majority of the students complete their first degree in the second-class lower category while in most of the private universities, the majority of the students finished in the second-class upper category.
Olayinka said: ‘’ In comparison to the average for universities in the United Kingdom, the degree classification in the 12 selected Nigerian Universities is lower.
‘’Among the 12 Nigerian universities, the general trend in all the six public universities studied is that the majority of the students complete their first degree in the second-class lower category. On the other hand, in most of the private universities, the majority of the students finished in the second-class upper category.
‘’Improving the quality of university education in Nigeria would require strengthening what happens at the secondary education level’’.
Olayinka also called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to regularly collect data on the performance of all Nigerian Universities, including the throughput and degree classification.
The university Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Ogunkunle, who was represented by a Council member and Registrar, Teacher Registration Council of Nigeria [TRCN], Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, lauded the strides of Olaniyan within a year.
Ajiboye maintained that Governor Seyi Makinde did not make mistakes in appointing Olaniyan as the VC judging from his performance, stating that the vice chancellor combines humility with brilliance. The TRCN Registrar said: ‘’The visitor did not make a mistake in appointing him as the VC. He is well prepared for the job. He has everything it takes to be here. He subjected himself to the examination of TRCN. He combines brilliance with humility’’.
Responding, the VC, Prof. Olanrewaju Olaniyan, said the modest record within one year was as a result of the fact that he was surrounded by wise and experienced people who made their knowledge and expertise available to him when he was appointed.  He expressed his appreciation to Governor  Makinde for his commitment and support for the school, the Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology led by the Honourable Commissioner, Prof. Soliu Adelabu for support and assistance; the university Governing Council, led by Prof Ayo Ogunkunle, the pioneer university administration, Senate, staff and students of the institution for their teamwork and the pioneer staff for their unwavering contributions, active support, and dedicated efforts in propelling the university towards greater heights.
The VC said:  “On August 09, 2023, I was appointed as the Vice Chancellor of our great University, Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, by the Governor of Oyo State and Visitor to our University, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde.As a leader, you need wise men around you; you need those who have been there before you. Prof. Olayinka was one of those I contacted when I was appointed and we had a fruitful discussion”, the VC said.
‘’The last one year had been a great year of pioneering the university, charting the course and path for the new institution, amidst various directions available.
‘’This is with the aim of following a specific path that would lead our university to greatness in academic excellence, and ensure that our students and staff are cut out to become distinguished academic leaders on the global stage.
‘’I have been able to lead a team of competent colleagues towards our shared goal of pioneering an institution that will be the best specialised university of education in Africa with a niche in the integration of teaching and learning for production of teachers and manpower suited to the challenges of the contemporary global knowledge economy.
‘’The last one year has been extremely busy for us. We have worked hard to obtain the approval of 50 academic programmes from the national regulatory body, and set up all the university organs for quality higher education provision. We have also started the first academic session and matriculated 2,761 first year students who are now on the path towards becoming world class graduates in various fields’’.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor and Chairman, Planning Committee of the programme, Prof. Ibrahim Olatunde Salawu, lauded those present at the programme. Other features at the historic celebration included exhibitions and drama performances by the Creative and Theatre Arts Department and Yoruba Language Unit. The Vice Chancellor’s Sports Fiesta finals that followed were explosive while the Parents’ Forum that closed the programme was judged novel by the parents who trooped in from all over the country.
Comrade Agboluaje, a Policy Analyst, Journalist, Fellow of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting [ICIR], Marketing Communication Expert, and Economist, writes from Ibadan. He can be reached via:Â rotimiagboluaje10@gmail.com
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