13 Jostle to Become Kwara College of Education Provost

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

About 13 candidates are now vying for the position of provost of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin. The tenure of the current Provost, Dr. Saka Opobiyi will expire next month.

It was gathered that four of the applicants are academic staff of the college, while the remaining nine are lecturers from other higher institutions in the country.

It was gathered that the aspirants from the college are the Deputy Provost (Administration), Dr. Mukaila Taiwo; the Dean, School of Basic and Remedial Studies, Dr. Nimota Ojibara; Dean, School of Science, Mr. Bolakale Adebimpe; and Director, Computer Information Technology Centre (CITC), Mr. Jimoh Ayinla.

Some of the contenders from the University of Ilorin and the Kwara State University (KWASU) are Dr. Abubakar Laaro from KWASU, the immediate past Sub-dean, UNILORIN, Dr. Abdulkareem Yusuf, Dr (Mrs.) Dosumu and Dr. AbdulMalik.

THISDAY checks revealed that at least 15 aspirants were on the race before the number was pruned down to 13 by a five-man selection board as specified by the college edict. The oral and written interviews for the real selection by the panel have been concluded.

Sources close to the college told our correspondent that with the conclusion of interviews and screening of the applicants, the governing council of the college is expected to name Opobiyi’s successor anytime from now.

It was gathered that some people are rooting for another term of office for Opobiyi, but that is the prerogative of Governor Abduulfatah Ahmed. However, the College of Education, Ilorin, Law 2013 precludes the outgoing provost from a second tenure in office.

According to the law signed by Governor Ahmed “the provost shall be appointed by the governor from among three persons recommended by a joint committee of the council and academic board and shall hold office for a term of five years only, which shall be non-renewable.”

It was gathered that the academic and non-academic staff of the institution are rooting for one of their own to succeed the outgoing provost. Based on his track records, Ayinla who according to sources, just completed his doctoral degree, has the backing of his colleagues.

Ayinla had served the college community as the chairman of the college loan committee and currently the president of the college cooperative union. He was said to have performed well in the oral and written interview.

Another factor that puts the internal contenders in good stead was the stand of the institution’s chapter of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU). The position of the union leaders way back in 2010 was that only lecturers from colleges of education should be appointed as provost.

The memo, signed by the COEASU chairman and secretary on December 17, 2010 and addressed to the Chairman, Governing Council of the college reads: “We wish to convey the decision of our noble union to the council on the appointment of new provost. The national executive council of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union has resolutely decided that only lecturers from the college of education should be appointed as provost.

“To promote the morale of the academic staff at colleges of education, they should not be denied their right of being appointed as head of administration of their colleges. This is on the strength of the fact that lecturers at colleges of education are not allowed to be vice- chancellors of universities, so also it will be aberrant for the university dons to become provosts of colleges of education.

“The appointment of the provost should consider all criteria that will produce the best candidate from all. At this juncture, we need an upright and creative minded personality that will be able to take us through future challenges and such a personality should be someone who is thoroughly familiar with frontiers and challenges of the institution.

“We are counting seriously on the council to vindicate us by giving us the best candidate from within the college that will restore its dignity since past experiences showed that outsiders only came and leave us with our problems.”