The University of Ibadan Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebola Babatunde Ekanola has encouraged both staff and students of the institution to put the setback in the outgoing year behind them, saying better days are afoot.
The Acting VC in his season’ greetings message addressed to all the stakeholders of the University regretted some of the challenges that have beset both academic and professional progress of students and staff, expressing hope that soon everything will normalize.
According to Prof. Ekanola, “it is the year in which we lost about 10 months of academic activities to the global COVID-19 pandemic and a national strike called by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
We have also had to contend with the local industrial action called by the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), together with issues that arose from the process of appointing a new Vice Chancellor”
He said, “My heartfelt sympathy goes to all our students whose studies have been suspended for many months now. I feel the pain of my esteemed colleagues whose promotions are pending. I share the frustration of all other categories of stakeholders negatively affected one way or the other by the situation in the Nigerian University System, and especially in the University of Ibadan”
He added, “From the ashes of the clogs and the spell of tension of the last 10 months, I see the blossoming of goodwill, peace, mutual love, and remarkable progress ahead. By the grace of God and our collective efforts, tension has been doused, fractured friendships are already healing; and frayed nerves are being calmed”
Prof. Ekanola however stressed that “together, U and I can and will move UI forward. By our collective will, let us break all barriers; and, despite our challenges, let us raise the bar for UI and consolidate our position among the global best players in the domain of higher education”, wishing them merry Christmas and happy new year.
