By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
The Vice Chancellor of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) Ado-Ekiti, Professor Edward Olanipekun has revealed how the University is coping with the challenges of fuel subsidy.
Prof. Olanipekun who spoke during an interview with Heritage News in Ado Ekiti, revealed that, “We provided buses taking our staff from town to campus and at the close of work. They were also taken to the town every day.
“We are pleading with the state government to also extended to our people whatever palliatives that are available to cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy removal.”
He disclosed further that “the university and the state government have been partnering in so many areas like making use of our staff and even our facilities and this has change the narrative in our relationship”.
The state government and the ministry of education have been doing a lot for the university and like Oliver twist we are counting on then for more patronages.
We are not only focusing on the state government for patronage, we are also approaching other corporate organisations for that.
The VC stated that the state owed university is not doing badly in terms of research with recent commissioning of Office of research, development and innovation.
This is to see how some the research breakthroughs can actually be showcased and the office is working on that. We are also not resting on our oars to ensure that better ground breaking research findings are recorded here.
He, however, noted that research cost a lot of money. If not for Tetfund it would have been practically difficult for us to conduct new research.
“We need a lot of funds to be able to conduct research. It is an area we also the support of government. The government should be able to set aside some funds for universities to carryout these researches.”
Reeling out some of his achievement in over four years of his administration, Olanipekun said, “Inherited promotion arrears of staff has been defrayed. So we don’t have any pending in this university and we have been able to clear all the backlogs. People have been receiving their letters of promotion as and when due .
“Also workers that were sacked and disengaged by the governing council of the institution in 2019 are back in the university without losing anything and we ensured that their benefits are being paid.
“Arrears of emoluments are also being paid with the support of the proprietor, Governor Biodun Oyebanji. We have been able to defray most of the emoluments of staff and retirees even though we still have some that are still pending.
“National Universities Commission (NUC) has also granted the university the approval to start some new programmes at the undergraduate and post graduate levels.Starting from 2023/2024 academic session, students will be admitted into these new programmes.
“In term of infrastructure, a lot of projects have been completed by the federal government through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund) ultra modern medical…… Faculty of clinical sciences of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, (EKSUTH) and the construction of basic science laboratories is almost completed. There are so many other ongoing projects.
“Courtesy of the Alumni Association of the university, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has almost completed the construction of medical hostel for the university The construction of the road linking the College of Medicine and the Alumni village is also nearing completion and this will open up some parts of the university for development.”
He appreciated the visitor to the university, Governor Biodun Oyebanji for approving the connection of the university to the state independent power plant.
“By the time it is completed, it will save the university of a lot money we are currently spending in powering generating sets and it will also make the university eco- friendly.
“Because some of the emissions from the generating sets are not good for the environment as they constitute pollutants. The environment will be made conducive for research and even administrative activities.”
On how the relationship between the staff unions and administration is being managed, Olanipekun said, “Though my experience as a former unionist assisted but what really helped is that we always move in before situation escalates and we also maintained cordial relationship with the staff unions. They also showed tremendous understanding and we are grateful to them.
“Personal relationship and dialoguing as and when due were also part of it . The state government also assisted so much in ensuring that we were not caught in the web of disharmony between the university management and the staff unions.
He added that the relationship between the university management and the three staff unions has been cordial in over four years under his leadership.
“The unions have demonstrated tremendous understanding and they have been supportive of the administration in its quest to change the narrative and turn things around and so we are grateful them .
“We are assuming them that, the management will continue to prioritise their welfare and that of the students.”
Worried about rate of unemployment in the country, Olanipekun said, “I also don’t subscribe to the idea of a graduate after study to be looking for white- collar-job.
“Things have changed over time. It is no longer the certificate one is carrying that can only being food to the table , you can do other things after graduation to become an employer of labour.
“To bridge that gap, our university has a very good and robust entrepreneurship study centre, where all the students, will at least learn one skill or the other before they graduate. And is compulsory for every students.
“We have quite a number of activities going on there, which can make them self reliant and independent. We thank the Tetfund for providing the needed fund for equipping the centre.
“Talking about food security, it is something that must be taking seriously, because without food security there will be problems. If we are not able to feed ourselves there are bound to be challenges .
“Senate in its wisdom has just decided that , henceforth, all our students should take as a compulsory course an art of agriculture. In other words, they must have a grasp of something that has to do with agriculture.
“So, the curriculum is being put together by the faculty of Agricultural Sciences and as soon as that is concluded, it will be rolled out. We know the importance of food security, particularly in our present society and there is no way occupy the back seat .
“So, in terms of entrepreneurship, we are ensuring that all our graduates master one skill or the other before they leave the university. The university is ready to support them to acquire facilities that would enable them to set up their own businesses after graduation.
“It is compulsory that all the students, including medical students learn one skill depending on their time. Some can even learn two or more.”