Date: 2014-10-20

The University of Ilorin has been described to be blessed not only in resources, landscape and excellence alone, but with the quality of leaders it has always had. From the time of Professor Tamuno Teckena, the first principal of the institution when it was a college under the University of Ibadan to professor Shuaib Oba Abdulraherem, Professor Is-haq Oloyede and now Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, who has been described as an amiable and rare leader. He pursues whatever he believes in vigorously without any iota of doubt. Within two years Ambali has not only been able to maintain the works and achievement of his predecessors, he has even achieved more.

One of the key areas of strength of Professor Ambali is in the area of training and retraining. Almost all members of staff of the University have benefited in one way or the other via in-house, local, national and international workshops, seminars and conferences through the Center for Research, Development and in-house training. Just like the Registrar Mr. Emanuel Obafemi said “He’s ready to sacrifice anything to make sure that those who are to be trained are well trained”

The infrastructural development in the University is jaw-breaking, just like a Professor told me during a chart, “each time I travel and return to the University, I ask myself did Professor Ambali carry this building here?” This is evident with the countless number of faculty buildings, lecture theaters, lecture rooms and one of the most important, the University of Ilorin Central Research Laboratory. On completion, the problem of lack of standard research laboratories and equipment would have been reduced to its barest minimum as researchers in the University would be able to conduct cutting edge research and as such graduates from the University of Ilorin would indeed be better by far.

Within the two years of his administration the University of Ilorin became the first University in Nigeria. While reacting to this, Professor Ambali just like Oliver twist said his aim is to ensure the University the first in Africa and even the world at large. And to ensure that members of staff are well encouraged. He continues to attribute the success to his staff and management team. The University of Ilorin in the 2014/15 UTME exercise became the most subscribed with over one hundred and nine thousand candidates choosing the University as their choice University but with its limited carrying capacity it can only accommodate about nine thousand. This cannot only be attributed to the unbroken calendar for over a decade but the thoroughness the students are put through while studying which they usually appreciate after they leave the university; the transparency the University management demonstrates to its workforce and the friendly, encouraging and always smiling face the Vice Chancellor puts on.

The University of Ilorin described as the institution with the largest land mass in Africa, with the efforts put in place by the last administration has continually invested in short, medium and long-term agriculture.  The University management under the leadership of Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali is making sure that the University is judiciously putting to use its asset.

Just recently the Honorable Minister of Finance and Supervising Minister for the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was at the University to launch the UNILORIN Oil Palm Plantation. It is no longer news that the oil palm which is native to Africa could be referred to as a source of wealth to countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand among others. Until the discovery of oil Nigeria was the leading producer of oil palm which accounted for about 22 percent of the country’s agricultural export.

The oil palm tree which does not branch is monochord and can be referred to as a special tree. In-fact experts say anyone who is investing in Oil Palm is investing in all parts of the tree. Right from the trunk, the Oil Palm can be used as fence material for a building, to the leaves in which broom is extracted or used as roofing materials,  the popular palm wine is obtained from the male flower of the oil palm, and then the palm fruit itself from which palm oil, palm karnel oil among others are derived. The oil palm is a short/medium term investment which the University intends to start reaping dividends from in the next few years.

The University management is determined to committing about 1,000 hectares of land to the cultivation of oil palm. This however, may increase depending on the level of initial productivity. The University is also seeking ways in collaborating with the Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR).  NIFOR has the mandate to research into all Palm Crops in the country. Currently the University has invested over 10million Naira in the project and has planted about 50 hectares of Oil Palm.

The University of Ilorin also intends to invest more in Agriculture. Already, the University has a tick forest which it started over 7 years ago. It has also planted jatropha, date palm,  moringa amongst others. These ideas are lofty but it is certain that the University cannot single-handedly fund these projects as they are expected to gulp about 1.2billion Naira. There is the need to seek Federal Government’s assistance. The University will also need to attract sincere investors who would help in the proper realization of this dream. Since the Kwara state government is so much interested in investing in agriculture, there is the need for the state government to give considerable attention to the project as the success in the project would definitely put the name of the state on the world map.

On assumption of office Professor Ambali said one of his key vision for the University is to make sure that the University is fully ICT compliant, though not completed the drive has been appreciably achieved. Within the next four years, every student in the University of Ilorin would have a PC Tablet and would be internet compliant. Just recently the management signed a memorandum of Understanding with WAVETECH Engineering. With this every member of staff and student in the University would be connected to the internet 24/7. This initiative would enable students to receive lectures, submit assignments and receive instructions just with a tap on their tablets. Smart boards are also being installed in strategic areas of the University and in line with the vision of Professor Ambali every class room would be equipped with a smart board and lecturers would go to class with just a flash drive. Not only that, the University also has an application that can connect both current and prospective members of the community with the world.

 Just like the Yoruba adage says, “it is the child that stretches that the mother carries”, it therefore behooves on Professor Ambali to look more inwards into staff welfare so as to continually make them happy and fulfilled on their job. It would also make them to be more dedicated to the service of the University. No doubt, the workforce in the University is a blessing to the institution as they work tirelessly to ensure that the University never goes to sleep. Also the Federal Government needs to pay much more attention to the development of the institution so as to make it a model and center of reference in Tertiary Education in Nigeria to the rest of the world.

Abdulgaffar Arikewuyo is a lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin