Convention: Unilorin VC Inaugurates Alumni Committee

Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN), Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin (Unilorin), has inaugurated the institution’s Alumni National Unity Convention Planning Committee to plan and organise a national unity convention by July/August.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Kunle Akogun, the Director of Corporate Affairs of the institution, and issued to newsmen on Saturday in Ilorin.

According to the statement, the development is as a a result of the resolution of the lingering differences between the three contending factions of the alumni association at a stakeholders’ meeting, convened at the instance of the vice chancellor.

It added that Egbewole’s intervention was informed by the admonition of the court handling the case, which called on him to resolve the lingering crisis in the association.

Quoting the vice chancellor, the statement explained that his mandate was to put in place a brand new alumni association that would be partner in progress, with the university management.

It then charged the committee to come up with strategies and ensure that a well-coordinated unity convention, where all members of the association would be carried along, would be held.

The statement expressed optimism that a new leadership for the institution’s alumni association would emerge.

According to the statement, all the three contending forces and the university management were represented on the committee.

It added that the committee would determine and appoint leaders that would be generally accepted to all members of the association and would compete favourably with any global alumni body.

According to it, the association has been in the news for the wrong reasons for too long, saying this has to stop.

It said that the vice chancellor’s understanding of an alumni association is that it was a partner to the university and does not represent it, nor can it take over the running of the institution.

“With the calibre of people that make up the convention planning committee, the vice chancellor expressed the hope that the stakeholders will get it right.

“We appreciated the sacrifices made by all the stakeholders, especially the fact that all the three contending forces agreed to the unity convention,” the statement read in part.

Meanwhile, at a stakeholders meeting, Prof. David Durosaro, the pioneer National President of the association in his opening remark, commended the vice chancellor for providing a platform for the contenders to sit and rub minds, rededicate themselves and move forward.

Durosaro said that no one was happy with the state of the institution’s alumni association, stressing that it belonged to all.

According to him, no single individual can be stronger or greater than the association.

He said that the association should be partner in progress with the university and for the three factions to be present at the meeting, it showed that they were all committed to the progress of Unilorin.

NAN