By Mikail Mumuni
Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Osun State University ( UNIOSUN), Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali SAN has restated the determination of the university to adherence to global standard in it’s affairs.
He stated this during the Exhibition/ Media Event of the university held over the weekend in Lagos.
Mallam Ali said part of the standard put in place by the Governing Council was to ensure that academic staff are more in number than non academic staff at every point in time.
He said this is the case with UNIOSUN, noting that this had to be so because the primary responsibility of a university is teaching and research.
He was full of commendation for his fellow members of the Governing Council who were inaugurated on 16th August, 2016 by the former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, saying they have devoted their, resources, time and contacts to develop the institution it’s current enviable status.
The members of the Council are Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali,SAN (Chairman), Prof. Charles Abiodun Alao, Prof. Solomon Akinboye, Sir Ademola Aladekomo, Prof. Kasali Adegoke, Engr. Tunde Ponnle, Prof. Abeke Omotoso, Barrister Moses Awe, Mr. Festus Sunday Olajide, Mrs. Adebimpe Ogunlumade, Mr Titus Adeniyi, Professor Amos Popoola, Professor Bolaji Omitola, Professor Anthony Kola-Olusanya, Dr. Muktar Abanikannda, Mr Sodiq Balogun and the Principal officers of the university.
The Pro- Chancellor also said it was to the credit of Aregbesola and his successor, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola that they do not dictate to the Governing Council how the university should be administered.
Mallam Ali said the university which is fee paying is largely run through its internally generated revenue ( IGR) in terms of school fees and proceeds from business ventures.
He noted also the huge financial contributions of the Chancellor of the university, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, members of the Governing Council and staff in the execution of projects and donation of edifices to UNIOSUN.
Some facilities/projects donated or funded are:
Donation of N250 million by Dr. Mrs. Folorunso Alakija,Chancellor of Osun State University, towards the completion of the Folorunso Alakija Boulevard at the Main Campus, Osogbo.
• Contributions of N6,872,954.97 through staff unions by all members of staff towards the completion of the Folorunso Alakija Boulevard, at the Main
Campus, Osogbo.
Ongoing construction of multi-million dollars Osun State University Teaching Hospital by Modupe and Folorunso
Alakija
• Foundation stone was laid by the former Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Thursday, 22 November, 2018
• It’s a 250-bed ultra modern Osun State University Teaching Hospital (UNIOSUNTH) in Osogbo
A philanthropist, member of the Governing Council and Prince of Ada in Osun State, Engr. Michael Ponnle bequeathed his estate to the University for Medical
Education
• The property in Ada includes
• MicCom House (five 2-bedroom flats, driver quarters (5 rooms and a
toilet),
• swimming pool with one hectare of land and
• MicCom Cancer Foundation Clinic (reception, Board room, library,
laboratory, 2 stores, Cryotherapy/procedure room, 4 consulting
rooms, administrative office 4 toilets and generator house).
Other notable donations are:
Donation of highly motivational books by the Chancellor, Dr. Mrs. Folorunso Alakija to all the graduating students of the University on yearly basis
• Renewal of the subscription of the college of law on linebook services for two years by the Pro chancellor, Mallam Ali.
• N38 million Endowment bequeathed to the Department of Accounting, by an educationist, lawyer and philanthropist,
late Mrs Abimbola Aina Omololu–Mulele, in recognition of her vision to advance the frontiers of knowledge in accountancy
*Financial support from the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of
Council of Osun State University, Mallam Yusuf O. Ali, SAN.
• Construction of Motion Ground on the main campus by First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
• Construction of Motion Ground at Okuku campus by Unity Bank Plc.
• Construction of eco-park to commence soon with support from another commercial bank
• Financial support from Unity Bank, Zenith Bank Plc., UBA Plc.,Winteck Nigeria Ltd, NEM Insurance Plc and LASACO Assurance Plc
*Donation of 30 acres of land in October 2018 by His Royal Majesty, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, Larooye II, the
Ataoja-in-Council and the Osogbo Community for UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital.
• Donation of 20 acres of land by the Ifetedo Community for the development of College of Law.
He said the Governing Council has zero tolerance for abandoned projects and that it has a policy that no project would be awarded without cash back up.
He said also that the Council demands high ethical standards from the contractors and staff of the university.
For every contract awarded by the Council, he said, there is an anti-corruption clause. ” You cannot say you don’t want corruption and not do anything about it,” he stressed.
He also said Anti- Sexual Harassment Handbooks have been distributed to the university community as part of the moves to put an end to the scourge of sexual harassment.
He said the Council, conscious of the necessity to maintain high academic standard has signed linkage agreements and/or has research
collaboration agreements with many international institutions such as;
• Centre for Energy and Environmental Policy (CEEP), University of
Delaware, Delaware, USA;
• Texas Southern University (TSU) Houston, Texas, USA;
• Kyungnam University, Republic of Korea;
• Medical Faculty, Otto-Von-Guericke-University of Magdeburg,
Magdeburg, Germany
• Albany State University, Georgia, USA;
University of Essex, UK;
• Skyline College, San Bruno, California, USA;
• Pennsylvania State University USA;
• University of Manitoba in Canada;
• University of Saskatchewan, Canada;
• University of Parakou, Benin Republic
• Centro de Biotechnologia Genomica (CBG/IPN),Mexico
• University of the Gambia, Gambia
• Alabama A & M University Normal, Alabama, USA
He disclosed that sixty (60) undergraduate academic programmes running across sic Campuses of UNIOSUN, and forty Five (45) Postgraduate programmes.
The Pro- Chancellor said 45 programmes are fully accredited, while the remaining 15 are not yet ripe for accreditation.
“All programmes due for accreditation have been fully accredited”, he added.
The Pro- Chancellor commended also the management and staff of the university, led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Labode Popoola for their dedication to duty.
He assured that the Governing Council will always see to their welfare.
He staff welfare package already put in place by Council, according to him, included:
* Approval of 50% rebate in School Fees for UNIOSUN Staff Children by Governing Council
• Promptness in the Payment of Salaries – (25th of every month)
• Payment of Earned Academic Allowances
• Institution of a staff health funds
• Introduction of Housing and Car Loan
He listed capacity building trainings carried out as:
Training of one hundred (100) staff on ICT skills in 2018
• Capacity building workshop on the use of Interactive Boards for lecture
delivery in 2018
• Training of one hundred (100) staff on ICT skills in 2019
• Retreat for Provost, Deans, Directors, Deputy Directors, Heads of
Departments/Units in 2018
• Retreat for Provost, Deans, Directors, Deputy Directors, Heads of
Departments/Units in 2019
• ICAN Training Workshop for Bursary & Audit Staff
• 2-day retreat on Ethical Conduct and Leadership
Speaking earlier on Mr. Ademola A. ADESOJI Public Relations Officer of the university said UNIOSUN is blessed with a Chairman of Governing Council and members who are not parasites to the instructions.
He said unlike in many other universities where Governing Council members expect to be cathered for, the reverse is case for Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali and his team.