Ku8: UNILORIN VC, Wahab Egbewole gets new assignment

Wahab Egbewole SAN

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has been elected the pioneer Chairman of the newly formed consortium of all universities in Kwara State, called “Ku8”.

The group was formed to create inter-university relationships among all the universities in Kwara State that would ensure great academic strive in all the universities through knowledge sharing.

Prof. Egbewole’s emergence was announced during the maiden meeting of the body, held at the University of Ilorin and attended by six Vice Chancellors of the member universities and representatives of two others.

ROTAL NEWS reports that other Vice Chancellors in attendance that equally made contributions and brilliant suggestions included those of Landmark University, Prof. Charity Onye Aremu; Crown-Hill University, who was represented by Prof Jeleel Ojuade; Thomas Adewumi University, Prof. Francisca Oladipo ; and Prof. Abiodun Musa Aibinu of Summit University.

Universities that formed the KU8 consortium are the University of Ilorin (established in 1975), Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin (established in 2005), the Kwara State University, Malete (established in 2009), Landmark University, Omu-Aran (established in 2011), Summit University, Offa (established in 2015), Crown-Hill University, Ilorin (established in 2016), Ahman Patigi University, Patigi (established in 2021); Thomas Adewumi University, Oko (established in 2021), and the University of Offa, Offa (established in 2021).

Other officers of the KU8 are the Vice Chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University, Oko, Prof. Francisca Oladipo, General Secretary; and the Vice Chancellor of Landmark University, Omu Aran, Prof. Charity Onye Aremu, Treasurer.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, who is also the convener of the meeting, Prof. Egbewole, said that the idea of ‘The KU8 Initiative’ was to promote functional academic linkages and institutional collaboration for the attainment of effective delivery of the core mandate of teaching, research and community service among the member universities.

According to Prof. Egbewole, “The purpose of KU8 (or eight Universities in Kwara State) is mainly to develop closer relationships, promote academic linkages and establish institutional collaboration, which will allow joint activities in delivering the universities’ mandates of teaching, research and community service”

The Vice Chancellor said, “This is necessary too to avoid one of the ironies of today’s world in which human beings are so advanced that we go to the moon but we are so backward to visit or assist our neighbour. The essence is to pursue the global without compromising the local because ultimately, all development permeates from the rear.

“The crux of this meeting aligns with the operational philosophy that I champion. I told the Senate of the University of Ilorin in my inaugural address, titled, “Together Everyone Achieves More”, that TEAM is just an acronym depicting that. As unity is strength and we cannot clap with a hand, we can support one another to overcome challenges and deepen the training of our teeming young ones. A broom sweeps only when the individual broomsticks come together and work together. The University of Ilorin extends its hands of fellowship to all Kwara universities as it looks forward to a future where members of the KU8 will be emerging the best in several areas”.

Prof. Egbewole said, “As a university strategically located in the cultural confluence of Nigeria, we have realised that unity is strength and united we stand, divided they fall. It is our philosophy that with cooperation, coordination, collaboration, interaction, and networking, we can only be stronger. Today’s meeting is in furtherance of that philosophy.”

According to him, the need for closer interaction is even more compelling this time because the Nigerian university system through the National Universities Commission (NUC) is deploying the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standard (CCMAS) which requires the development of a percentage (30%) of the curriculum by the institutions.

Speaking earlier at the opening ceremony of the meeting, the Ag. Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Prof. Shaykh Luqman Jimoh, commended the convener of the KU8 for coming up with such a brilliant initiative, adding that it will be very useful and supportive not only to member universities but also to the society in general.

Prof. Jimoh disclosed that the late Vice Chancellor of KWASU, Prof. Muhammed Mustapha Akanbi, SAN, had earlier initiated a robust collaboration with the University of Maiduguri and the Borno State University, adding that he was also keen on bringing all universities in Kwara State under one umbrella, but he thanked God that Prof. Akanbi’s desire has now come to pass with the formation of KU8.

In their separate comments at the meeting, the Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Prof. Noah Yusuf; and the Vice Chancellor of Ahman Patigi University, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, described the formation of KU8 as a step in a right direction and expressed optimism that the initiative would bear fruitful results.