The new provost of College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun has sought for the strengthening of the synergy between the College and the Main Campus of the institution for the benefit of staff and students.
She made this call during a familiarization visit to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka, in his office on Monday, 21 September 2020.
Prof. Omigbodun expressed her administration’s readiness to work with the University Management in order to achieve all her set out programme for the College.
“We appreciate what you are doing. We want to continue to work with you in synergy. We really desire to be an integral part of activities in UI. During my campaign for the Office of Provost, my main focus was on how to improve our relationship with the main campus. My theme was “Team of Togetherness.”
“We want to work with other parts of the University. It takes an extra effort as we are busy. Most of us are clinicians who are interested in the activities on campus. Specifically, we want to improve our attendance at meetings.”
“We want to ensure that we are not forgotten in the scheme of things. We want to have representation from the College of Medicine in all activities in UI”, she said.
She disclosed that arrangements are afoot to involve other professionals in teaching, research and community service for the production all round medical graduates.
“I am the Principal Investigator (PI) on a project in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Care where we involved about eight departments such as Law, Guidance and Counselling, etc from the main campus. We want to have programmes that will cut across all Faculties in the University. This is the best practice all over the world. That is not possible, if we are not working together.”
Prof. Omigbodun drew the attention of the VC to inadequate infrastructure in the College such as the Medical Library; offices for the Faculty; hall of residence for undergraduate students; toilets and furniture in the two auditoriums, stressing that these facilities require rehabilitation and outright new ones.
Commending the VC on his emotional intelligence which has taken the University to an enviable height in the world, Prof. Omigbodun pleaded with the VC to do one or two things for the College before the expiration of his tenure.
Responding, Prof. Olayinka commended the new Provost for what she has been able to achieve within a short period of her assumption of office.
“You hit the ground running on your assumption of office. The whole University is one. You need resources and space to function. We can use our resources to optimize them. Whatever we can do on short-term, middle-term or long-term, we will do”, the VC assured.
On the Provost’s team during the visit were Prof. Ade Fatai Adeniyi, Deputy Provost; Dr. Ikeoluwapo Moody, Deputy Registrar/Secretary to College; Mrs. Oluwafolakemi Ajayi, Financial Controller; Dr. Grace Ajuwon, Acting Medical Librarian; Prof. Samuel Olaleye, Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and Prof. Mayowa Owolabi, Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences.
Present at the occasion were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Adebola Ekanola; Deputy Registrar, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Oluwole Dada; Director, University Advancement Centre, Mr. ‘Debo Adeosun and the Director, Directorate of Public Communication, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo.
