Professorship shouldn’t be a prerequisite for vice chancellors – Ex-OAU VC Abimbola

By Adesina Wahab

Former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Wande Abimbola, has argued that it should not beryllium compulsory for lone professors to beryllium appointed arsenic vice chancellors successful Nigerian universities.

According to him, the quality to pull funds and unafraid developmental projects for institutions should beryllium considered much important than holding a doctorate grade oregon attaining the fertile of professor.

Speaking connected the online sermon Boiling Point Arena, hosted by nationalist relations strategist Dr. Ayo Arowojolu, Abimbola cited examples from the United States, wherever adjacent first-degree holders person served arsenic assemblage presidents — the equivalent of vice chancellors.

“I person taught successful 10 American universities, including Harvard and Boston University,” helium said. “When I was there, I discovered that the idiosyncratic appointed arsenic President of the assemblage had lone a Bachelor of Arts degree. In America, they enactment a premium connected who tin rise funds, who is connected to authorities and industry, and who tin beforehand the university, not conscionable connected world titles.”

He described it arsenic a “tragedy” for vice chancellors successful Nigeria to beryllium idly portion authorities backing for universities continues to decline. Instead, helium urged assemblage leaders to leverage alumni networks and societal goodwill to mobilise resources.

“The biggest plus of immoderate assemblage is its alumni,” helium said. “Such radical are expected to springiness backmost to the institutions that nurtured them. Unfortunately, giving is not our civilization successful Nigeria. Wealthy radical hardly spot it arsenic their work to enactment institutions that shaped them.”

Abimbola called connected the Federal Government to urgently acceptable up a committee of enquiry to urge reforms susceptible of rescuing the country’s ailing higher acquisition system.

“The assemblage strategy is dilatory dying earlier our precise eyes,” helium warned. “If funds are not forthcoming from government, past the vice chancellor indispensable cognize what to bash to marque things better.”

The station Professorship shouldn’t beryllium a prerequisite for vice chancellors – Ex-OAU VC Abimbola appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.