THE Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on Thursday, elected Professor Anthony Adebolu Elujoba as the acting Vice Chancellor (VC) of the institution.
The development was in compliance with the Monday’s directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to the university Senate to appoint an acting VC, pending the appointment of a substantive VC.
According to release signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the institution, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju, the emergence of Elujoba came after more than two hours of heated debate, presided over by the outgoing Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Omolayo Ajayi.
It added that more than 200 professors of the institution, who came for the meeting, eventually elected Elujoba with 201 votes over his compatriot, Professor Adebayon Lamikanra, who polled less than 10 votes.
The new acting VC is an accomplished academic, who had served as the Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy; chairman, Committee of Deans and chairman, Ceremonials Committee of the University for several years.
It will be recalled that the workers of OAU, under the aegis of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Academic Technoligists (NAAT), had protested the methods used by the dissolved Governing Council in the selection of Professor Ayobami Salami.
They equally petitioned President Buhari, who subsequently ordered the university’s Senate to pick a man of integrity to serve as the VC of the 54-year-old university in acting capacity.
The emergence of Elujoba elicited jubilation, as the workers led him in a convoy of cars to the Senate car park, while others trekked, exuding joy and satisfaction over the development.
Reacting over the emergence of Elujoba as the acting VC, the chairman of SSANU, Mr Ademola Oketunde, expressed satisfaction over the development, describing Elujoba as people’s choice, just as he charged him to make welfare of the staff and students his priority.
Similarly, the chairman of NASU, Comrade Wole Odewumi, commended the university Senate for choosing the right person to lead the institution in acting capacity.
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