As Nigerians anxiously await the eventual call-off of the five-month old strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, has called on the Federal Government and the lecturers' union to put in place a monitoring committee that would ensure that agreements reached between both parties are faithfully implemented in order to forestall future disruption of academic activities.

Prof. Ambali made this submission during an interview with members of the University of Ilorin Chapter of the Association of Campus Journalists in his office last Thursday (November 14, 2013).

The Vice-Chancellor said that the establishment of the monitoring committee was necessary so that the agreements reached between the two parties would be seen to be implemented in order to minimise the chances of having conflicts, which could be detrimental to the development of tertiary education in Nigeria.

Prof. Ambali said, "Whenever agreements are reached, everybody signs; individuals go home with the signed documents, but nobody sits down especially to mediate between the two to ensure that what has been signed is being implemented. And that has been our problem.

"Whenever an agreement is signed, ASUU hangs on to the document and they continue to open each page as the time goes by and continue to jot down those things that were agreed upon that have not been implemented. But if there is a monitoring committee in place, ASUU could go to that committee and sound a note of warning that look, this aspect is being neglected."

The Vice-Chancellor, who commended the campus journalists for their efforts towards projecting the image of the University positively, urged them to see the University of Ilorin as their home.

Prof. Ambali said, "Whatever you say about the University of Ilorin, you will come to live with it, because it is how you prepare your bed that you lay on it. Don't see yourself as being isolated from the University of Ilorin; this is your home and this is your life, which means you have to prepare for tomorrow and to be well prepared, you have to shape today very well. That doesn't mean that if you see areas that we need to pay more attention to that you shouldn't tell us, because we want this University to continue to grow. If you see any lapses, you can alert us in a professional way but don't be too negative about whatever is going on because this is your life."

While appreciating the students for their observation, assessment and accurate recognition of the contributions of his administration towards the development of the University, the Vice-Chancellor assured them that there would be improved access to internet facilities by all staff and students on campus.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that with support from the TETFund, upcoming projects such as the Central Research Laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure would be put in place to enhance research activities in the University as well as increased accommodation for students on campus.

Prof. Ambali stressed his administration's commitment towards providing improved teaching and learning environment for students, continuous training and retraining of staff and adequate welfare package for members of staff.

On the Leadership Award recently given him by the West African Students Union (WASU), the Vice-Chancellor said, "it shows me that no matter where you are, no matter who you are, no matter how small the responsibility is, just do it with the best of your knowledge and ability and once you do that, it will echo around the world, no matter how remote or far. Whatever image we are able to portray to the outside world is a collective responsibility. That is why all of us must work together; we shouldn't work in isolation, we shouldn't see ourselves as opposition; rather we should see ourselves as a major player in the game."

In his remarks, the President of the University of Ilorin Campus Journalists Association, Hammed Muritala, noted that the Vice-Chancellor had surpassed the expectations of students with his style of leadership and achievements in the last one year.

The campus journalists' delegation, which included Wale Bakare, Surajudeen Alabede, and Akorede Shakir, was led to the Vice-Chancellor's Office by the institution's Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun.