Among the 18 applicants for the post of Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, are four indigenes of Ibadan.
They include; professors Aderemi Raji-Oyelade, Oluwabunmi Olapade-Olaopa, Kayode Adebowale and Kolapo Amzat. This complements the campaign by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) for an indigene to be appointed the next VC of the institution.
The other 14 include; Professors Babatunde Salako, Babatunde Adeleke, Razaq Rom-Kalilu, Hakeem Fawehinmi, Raheem Lawal and Adeyinka Aderinto, Professors Clement Kolawole, Olusegun Ademowo, Oladele Layiwola, Temitope Alonge, Anthony Kadoye Onifade and Ebenezer Farombi.
While Kayode Adebowale is the incumbent Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC Administration); Adeyinka Aderinto is DVC (Academic). Olapade-Olaopa is the immediate past Provost, College of Medicine while Raji-Oyelade is a former Dean, Faculty of Arts of the institution.
Since the process commenced a few months ago, controversies have trailed the campaign by CCII to lobby the presidency to appoint an Ibadan indigene this time. As it argues that no indigene has emerged the VC of the premier university in its 72-year history and describes it as marginalisation.
However, the campaign has been labelled weak, as many commentators described it as another move to localise and politicise the university system along ethnic lines.
The candidates are scheduled for a debate tagged “The Voice of UI VC: Who is Next” later this week. The debate will hold on Zoom.
The new Vice Chancellor, when elected, will assume office for a single term of five years.
