Professor Kolawole Timothy Jaiyeoba has just been appointed as the vice chancellor of the Kola-Daisi University, Ibadan, making history as the first vice chancellor of the newly birthed institution. In this interview, he spoke to MODUPE GEORGE on his leadership experiences, vision for the institution, as well as its uniqueness.
C AN you share with us your vision for the university and the plans you are putting in place to achieve it?
My vision as the first vice chancellor of this university is to lay a very solid foundation for a viable university. It is my intention to also develop the university to become a force to be reckoned with. We know that we have many universities in Nigeria, but KDU should be excellent in nature and the students we will raise will become people who will be able to lead this nation in the right direction.
It is my hope that we would be able to achieve this. To start with, we already have a very good infrastructure. You know in most universities, it is very difficult to get the infrastructure ready by the time the university is taking off; but our own is ready and the structure is built in such a way that it will promote interactions between students and staff members. Also, it is our intention to nurture the students in a way that they will love their nation, show love to one another and understand that their mission is to be educated here, get back to the society and be worthwhile citizens.
To be able to do this, we have targeted an academic staff that will be able to lead the students in this direction. I must say that the founder of the institution is a meticulous and organised individual; and he has laid a very solid foundation upon which we can build and have a university that would be like Harvard University of the US. As you know, private universities are more important in the US than even governments. It is our intention to make a university that can make a name like that in Nigeria.
What would you do as the pioneer vice chancellor to ensure that it does not replicate what the older universities are doing wrong?
This is why the university is starting in a unique way. There must be sports, academics as well as communal living. We also intend to have entrepreneurship programmes. We intend to fill up our students’ time with useful activities, and at the same time inculcate discipline in them. KDU won’t be like other universities because it is not channeled as a commercial venture. It would be purposely to educate students, prepare for the future and then send them to the labour market, all over the world.
Nothing good, they say, comes easy. Do you foresee any challenge ahead?
The main challenge will be in having the adequate fund to sustain the programmes; but we have the assurance of the Proprietor, that is, the Kola Daisi Foundation, that the university would be catered for as much as possible. With this, we know that we will be able to overcome other challenges. Also, ICT is going to be embraced fully, so that students would have the benefit of a full ICT knowledge from the outset. The university has acquired an internet facility that would serve every student and staff member.
What have you done differently since assuming office, as well as your achievements before coming here?
I have found out that I have always been a builder, and this has a lot to do with having a good foundation. I could remember when I moved to the University of Ibadan, from the Obafemi Awolowo University Ife in 1982, I was to build a new Pharmacy faculty department. I really thank God, because what was started about 35 years ago is now a standard faculty in UI and it is almost the best in the country. I’ve been involved all through as the head of the department a number of times. For about 10 years, I was a dean of the faculty, serving three terms.
This was a kind of providence, because I had the opportunity of joining the Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo to help in building it. I was appointed as the second vice chancellor of the university, which means I led the university from its sixth year of existence to its 10th year. As you know, that is a very critical period in the life of a university. Any university that does not thrive in 10 years rarely will find it easy after that. Obviously, if you go to Ajayi Crowther University, you will find out that the foundation has been well laid, even for future vice chancellors to perform.
Coming here, then, means that I’ve gathered a lot of experience, which would help me to chart the course of this new university. Even though, the university is just starting, my experiences will help me to operate from the level that will not allow the university to suffer the setback that would have occurred if the vice chancellor were not experienced at all. That means we will be able to move higher and faster.
How far have you gone with admission processes?
We are almost through with the admission processes. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will soon come out with our courses. Very soon, we will be interacting with our students; those who chose us as their first choice, through a screening exercise.
What is leadership to you and how do you intend to maintain an effective students\management relationship in the long run?
Leadership actually means that you are at the forefront leading other people. In this case, you are in a university setting leading both staff and students. Here, you really need great maturity to do that. The only way to lead successfully is to lead by example. Leadership doesn’t have anything to do with wealth, but seriousness of purpose; how patient you can study situation and get appropriate solution. I think God has endowed me in this direction.
I have always been a university person, through my 40 years of working experience. To maintain a cordial relationship with the students, you have to occasionally put yourself in their position; make them understand you; who they are, what life is all about, and let them also see you face life. Then, they will respond to you positively. For the staff, if you are able to make them know, right from the outset, the specialty of the institution, they will abide by its rules.
Where do you see this university in the next 10 years?
Universities too will soon become like banks. There was a time that we had proliferation of banks, and we know the effect it had. One of the effects was that it expanded the economy; but later on, it became necessary to collapse the banks. The same thing may happen in the next 10 to 20 years if some institutions find out that they are no longer viable. This is where a university with leadership experience will really be in the front. In the next seven years, we will find out that KDU would have advanced and excelled above others that are presently in the market. As time goes by, water will find its lane and some universities will be displaced. We hope that KDU will continue to grow because of the great vision, the entrepreneurship drive and the mentorship skills of leaders in the institution.
What legacy would you like to leave behind by the time you are rounding off your tenure as the pioneer VC?
As human beings, in life we need to make a lot of sacrifices for one another whenever we are called upon to do anything. I have always lived a life of actually not caring about the material things that you can get; I have always been satisfied with what God has placed within my range. I think these are attributes that I will find a way to inculcate in others when it is time to leave.ax
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