The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyuAmbali (OON), has disclosed that some anti-democratic elements recently attempted to disrupt the age long peace and harmony on the university campus, saying however, that the support from the security agencies helped in staving off its ugly impact.
He stressed that the university administration would continued to uphold democratic ideals while insisting that all organs of the university do so.
Prof. Ambali stated this while welcoming to his office the new Director of the Kwara State Command of the Department of State Services (DSS), Barr. Brown Ekwoaba.
According to Prof. Ambali, “We have had experience of people trying to destabilize us but your organization has been very useful in preventing such. People have also used the students to destabilize us but our students have been very law abiding. There has been an attempt to blackmail us but all of these have failed because at the University of Ilorin, we practice democracy where the majority have their way and the minority have their say”.
The Vice-Chancellor explained that the Unilorin Branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) works by the principle of democracy that ensures that the majority rules and the minority is heard, adding that anyone interested in controlling the union should do so through democratic means.
On the issue of the withdrawn provisional admissions, Prof. Ambali explained that “it was not easy to pick 10,000 students out of the over 100,000 that applied to study here”. He said, “The University had to allocate points to the grades scored by the candidates in the SSCE results. It was on this basis that we offered provisional admission. It was stated that any misinformation in their stated results would lead to automatic disqualification. Some uploaded A grade but eventually presented C grade during verification. This led to automatic disqualification.”
He noted that the University of Ilorin would continue to cooperate with the DSS, pointing out that the existing cordial relationship between the two institutions has largely contributed to the 17 years uninterrupted academic calendar in the University.
“Be rest assured that the 17 years of uninterrupted academic calendar is not just the sole responsibility of the management but the collective effort of your department and other stakeholders. We are doing all this to ensure Nigerians have access to stable and quality education”, the Vice-Chancellor concluded.
Earlier in his remarks, the DSS Director said that he views Kwara State as an ideal place to settle down because it is the state of harmony. He said, “I am at the University of Ilorin to familiarise myself with the institution because the higher institutions are critical to security. My predecessor told me of the good relationship he had with the University and I hope the cooperation continues”.
Mr. Ekwoaba lamented that cultism is being transmitted to secondary and primary schools, as he observed that some lecturers, who were secret cult members in their student days, are still neck-deep in the crime.
The Director told the Vice-Chancellor that the DSS helped to stabilize the institution so that the University management would be able to execute their policies in an atmosphere of peace and safety.
Mr. Ekwoaba commended the University for allowing officers of the DSS to study at the University’s Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies (CPSS).
