OAU appoints Prof. Simeon Bamire 12th VC
…Protest rocks varsity over appointment of non-Ife indigene
By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
The Management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State, has appointed a Professor of Agricultural Economics from the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire as the 12th substantive Vice-Chancellor.
A statement signed by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Owelle Oscar Udoji, on Thursday, said the appointment takes effect from June 7, 2022.
The tenure of the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede will expire on June 6, 2022.
According to the Pro-Chancellor, Bamire was appointed after a thorough selection out of the 16 shortlisted candidates.
The statement read, “Council, at its meeting held on 7th December, 2021 flagged off the processes for the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor who is expected to assume duties on 7th June, 2022.
“In line with approval of the Council, the vacancy was widely advertised in compliance with relevant Statutes and Acts guiding appointment to the position.
“At a Special Meeting of 14th February, 2022, the Council perused the Curriculum Vitae of all the twenty (20) applicants who indicated interest in the position. At the end of the exercise, sixteen (16) of them were shortlisted, having met the advertised criteria.
“The interaction with the candidates began on Monday, 14th March, 2022 and ended on Wednesday, 16th March, 2022. All the sixteen candidates appeared before the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board, with fifteen of them present physically and one, at his request, virtually.
“The Selection Board painstakingly examined the Curriculum Vitae and interacted with each candidate, and scored them accordingly to stipulated criteria.
“The three highest scoring candidates were presented to the Council for further consideration as provided by the law. The entire exercise of the Joint Selection Board was witnessed by the representatives of the Federal Character Commission who have confirmed the exercise was fair and transparent and carried out in full compliance with the provisions of the Federal Character Commission Act.
“In line with the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act as amended, the report of the Selection Board was considered by the Council which, after a careful and dispassionate review of the report, decided to appoint Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, a Professor of Agricultural Economics from the Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, as the Vice-Chancellor of the University with effect from June 7, 2022.
“The decision of the Council shall be communicated to the Visitor to the University, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari through the Hon. Minister of Education.”
Meanwhile, following the announcement of the new Vice Chancellor of the institution, some aggrieved indigenes of Ile-Ife stormed the school entrance to protest the appointment of the new VC, who is not an indigene of the ancient town.
Nigerian NewsDirect gathered that the protesters, under the aegis of Ife town and gown, said appointing another non-Ife indigene as the VC was an act of unfairness for the ancient town.
The protesters reportedly moved to the campus’ main gate yesterday and shut it, leaving workers and students stranded for minutes.
