Date: 2018-03-20

The tenure of the current Provost of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, Dr Saka Opobiyi expires this April. Dr Opobiyi's five years trajectory has been with a lot of vicissitudes.

This is no thanks to a dearth of funds from the state government and internally-generated revenue (IGR). He has had to contend with a myriad of industrial actions from both the academic and non-academic staff union. Initially, 15 aspirants were on the race angling to succeed him before the number was pruned down to 13 by a five-man selection board as specified by the college edict.

Already, the 13 applicants appeared before the five-man panel for the oral and written interviews between 13th and 16th of this month. Four of the applicants are among the academic staff of the college, while nine lecturers are from other institutions. The Governing Council of the college is expected to name Dr Opobiyi's successor by April.

Among those warming up to succeed the outgoing provost from within the college, it was gathered, are Opobiyi's deputy (administration), Dr. Mukaila Bola Taiwo, Dean School of Basic and Remedial Studies, Dr. (Mrs.) Nimota Ojibara, Deans School of Science, Mr. Bolakale Adebimpe and Director, Computer Information Technology Centre (CITC), Mr. Jimoh Ahmed Ayinla.

Some of the contenders from the University of Ilorin and the Kwara State University (KWASU) are Dr Abubakar Laro from KWASU. Dr Laaro was once a lecturer at the department of Physical Health Education of the Institution. Others are the immediate past sub-dean, UNILORIN Dr. Abdulkareem Yusuf, Dr (Mrs.) Dosumu and Dr Abdulmalik, et al.

Due to popular agitations, it was gathered some people are rooting for another term office for Dr Opobiyi, but that is the prerogative of the state Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

However, the College of Education Ilorin, Law 2013 precludes the outgoing provost from tenure in office. According to the law signed by Governor Ahmed "the provost shall be appointed by the governor from among three persons recommended by a joint committee of the council and Academic Board and shall hold office for a term of five years only, which shall be non-renewable."

It was gathered that both academic and non-academic staff of the institution are positively predisposed to one of their own to succeed the outgoing provost. Based on his track records, the current Director of CITC, Mr. Jimoh Ahmed Ayinla whose doctoral degree is in view has the backing of his colleagues. He initially served the college community as the chairman of the college loan committee and currently the president of the college cooperative union.

Another factor that put the internal contenders to the provostship in good stead was the stand of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin chapter. The position of the union leaders way back in 2010 was that only lecturers from the colleges of education be appointed as provost. The memo was signed by the COEASU chairman and secretary, Sanni S and Yahaya M in December 17th, 2010 to the Chairman, Governing Council of the college reads: "We wish to convey the decision of our noble union to the council on the appointment of new provost. The national executive council of colleges of education Academic Staff Union has resolutely decided that only lecturers from the college of education should be appointed as provost.

"To promote the morale of the academic staff at colleges of education, they should not be denied their right of being appointed as head of administration of their colleges. This is on the strength of the fact that lecturers at colleges of education are not allowed to be Vice Chancellors of Universities, so also it will be aberrant for the Universities dons to become Provosts of Colleges of Education.

"The appointment of the provost should consider all criteria that will produce the best candidate from all. At this juncture, we need an upright and creative minded personality that will be able to take us through future challenges and such a personality should be someone who is thoroughly familiar with frontiers and challenges of the institution.

"We are counting seriously on the council to vindicate us by giving us the best candidate from within the college (Ilorin) that will restore its dignity since past experiences showed that outsiders only came and left us with our problems. A one-time union leader of COEASU commended the efforts of the state government in the last decade for respecting the resolution of COEASU for appointing lecturers from within in the three colleges of education; Ilorin, Oro and Lafiagi.

He frowned at lecturers looking for greener pastures from other institutions without adequate understanding the situation on ground in such institutions.