By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Governing Council of the University of Ibadan under the Chairmanship of Chief Adebisi Akande, a former Chairman of the All Progressive Congress and former Governor of Osun state on Friday held its inaugural meeting.
The meeting was attended by all statutory members except one appointee of the Federal Government who was out of the country.
The Council considered some pertinent issues already awaiting it.
It considered the reviewed schedule of levies for newly admitted and returning undergraduate students in the 2023/2024 academic session and approved as recommended by the Senate of the University.
The Council advised students who were yet to pay and complete their registration exercises to do so on or before Wednesday September 4th, 2024, to enable departments download lists of registered students, in preparation for the first semester examinations.
The Council sympathized with the students but noted that the review was necessary, in view of the current economic realities and the University’s commitment to ensuring quality teaching and research.
It directed that students be encouraged to take advantage of the students’ loan fund (NELFUND) and sundry scholarships instituted by the University and other well-meaning philanthropists to cater for indigent students.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Chief Adebisi Akande, had earlier written a letter to the Registrar to direct that all payments which may be due to him as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council be applied for the benefit of some deserving undergraduate students of the University who are offering Science courses in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology only.
Chief Akande said he considers his appointment as the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council of the University of Ibadan as a national call to service from which he does not intend to earn any remuneration.
He said his allowances should be kept as a form of endowment for the award of scholarships or any other form of awards to cover the cost of accommodation and other financially approved levies charged for the deserving students.
Chief Akande said the Adebisi Akande Foundation would augment any shortfall arising from any commitments from the awards to prevent any of the beneficiaries of the endowment becoming stranded.
All the Principal Officers of the University, the Provosts of the College of Medicine, and the Postgraduate College also attended the inaugural meeting.
