Mentor young academics, AAUA VC charges professors

THE vice chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, has called on university professors to provide good mentoring for younger academics.

Professor Ajibefun gave the charge during an interactive session with the academic staff of the university, held at the Multipurpose Hall of the institution.

“Our professors have a duty to provide good mentoring for the younger academics. It appears the core university culture is fading away and going down the drain. I am always proud of AAUA, and I am sure we have distinguished professors here; but we still have a lot to do to ensure that younger lecturers are not misguided or lose sight of academic ideals,” he said.

He said the purpose of the interaction was to address some recent developments in the university and to correct insinuations and misrepresentation of facts in some quarters within and outside the university community.

Ajibefun also addressed the issue of the eight members of staff who were suspended about a fortnight ago, saying the suspension of the affected staff was as a result of the misconduct on the part of the individuals and had nothing to do with ASUU or its executives as being insinuated.

He said, “I don’t operate on sentiments and I have nothing against the individuals as a vice chancellor; but as the vice chancellor, I am duty-bound to ensure that the laws of the university are not violated. I will not sit by and watch the system slide into barbarism.

“What happened has nothing to do with ASUU or its executives. There are some among the sanctioned lecturers who are non-executive members of the academic union and there are members of executives of the union who are not affected.”

He enjoined the university staff to be guided by the relevant laws in their actions or inactions and work in harmony with the university management to ensure that the institution continues to progress.

Senior professors and academics who responded on behalf of the academic staff thanked the vice chancellor for the peaceful manner he has been conducting the affairs of the university, and implored him to find an amicable way of resolving the matter.