The Executive Council of Adekunle Ajasin University Alumni Association has assured the Prof. Olugbenga Ige-led management of the association’s robust support and partnership that would further engender the progress and development of the University.
The President of the association, Mr. Kunle Adetoba, gave the assurance last week when he led other members of the Executive Council on a Congratulatory Visit to the newly-appointed Vice Chancellor of the University.
Adetoba, who described Prof. Ige’s appointment as timely-deserving, said, “We are very proud that you were deservedly appointed as the 6th substantive Vice Chancellor of our alma mater, having served very well in acting capacity for eighteen months. It is long-overdue for AAUA, a 21-year-old University, to have a home-grown Professor as its Chief Executive Officer. We are happy that you broke the jinx.
“Many of us here, if not all, know you and your antecedents. Your good antecedents and God’s grace have brought you thus far. Let me say, unequivocally, that we and other members of the association will support you and your administration with a view of bringing more developments to our alma mater.
The President expressed the hope that the VC would justify the confidence reposed in him by the Ondo State Government and members of the University Community to take AAUA to a better height.
Prof. Ige, while thanking the leadership of the association for the visit, acknowledged the contributions of the association to the University over the years, and appealed for more, describing Alumni Association as a major stakeholder and driver of development of institutions of learning across the world.
Prof. Ige said, “I want to thank you for your numerous donations and supports to the University. As a University, we are very proud of our graduates as we know that very many of you are doing extremely well in your various fields of endeavour.
“Many of you have become captains of industry, high-flying administrators, top professionals in various fields, and top-flight names in the entertainment world, to mention a few. We want to still urge you to help harness these potentials and move them to contribute more to the University.
The VC particularly commended the association for embarking on a multi-million Naira hostel project on campus and appealed to the executives to intensify work on the project.
In the same vein, the Non-academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU, has vowed to give undaunted support to the new administration of the University.
The AAUA branch of the union made the pledge during a Courtesy Visit to Prof. Ige last week.
Chairman of the Union, Mr. Abiodun Ekundayo, who led other members of the executive on the visit, congratulated the VC on his appointment, describing it as God’s willing.
Mr. Ekundayo highlighted the achievements of Prof. Ige while he was an acting VC to include payment of Earned Allowance, implementation of new Minimum Wage, Promotion and other welfare packages, among others.
The Union boss, therefore said, “As a union, we will support you and your administration. We will do more of dialoguing and lobbying to drive home any of our demands. It is when there is peace that development can take place. We will not give room for any crisis because we believe that your success in office will be our collective success.”
In his response, Prof. thanked the union leaders for their show of love by the visit, saying, “I do not take this for granted.”
Prof. Ige reassured the union of prioritizing the welfare of all staff and students of the University. He promised to give necessary support to the union and noted that his door ‘is always open to the union’.