The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, has made a case for attitudinal change among student leaders in the nation’s ivory towers if they are to impact their generation positively. Professor Oyewole made the call while declaring open a 2-day seminar for FUNAAB student leaders with the theme, “Attitude for Development Leadership”.
The Vice-Chancellor charged the students to always be peaceful and show maturity in the course of making for any demand from the authorities. While challenging Nigerian students to emulate their counterparts in Europe, who usually embark on protests on very important issues that centred on students’ exchange programmes, quality assurance and internationalisation of their institutions. Professor Oyewole charged participants at the seminar to lead by example while strengthening and promoting development and collaboration with the Management in making FUNAAB a world-class University.
The Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Yemi Akegbejo-Samsons, disclosed that the workshop was organised to enlarge and expand the knowledge horizon of the student leaders for the task ahead of them. He added that the training was unique in the sense that students were being equipped to serve the nation better.
The President of the Students’ Union, Comrade Peter Olajumoke, thanked the Vice-Chancellor for his magnanimity and kindness for relating with them freely like his own biological children in terms of welfare. He also appreciated the efforts of the Dean of Student Affairs in ensuring that the training programme eventually took place.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor has also pledged Managements support towards the building of the proposed FUNAAB Students’ Union Centre. The Vice-Chancellor stated this after being presented the prototype layout of the building and laying of the foundation of the recreational centre.
Comrade Olawale had described the idea of building a recreational centre as a “Monumental Legacy”, which would leave an indelible mark in the history of FUNAAB, as he stated that the sum of N1 million had been earmarked for the take-off of the project, while expressing his optimism that the needed funds for the building would be raised from donations, students’ annual dues and corporate sponsorships by private organisations.
In a similar development, the Students’ Union has donated copies of the publications; “Developmental Unionism” and “A Better Nigeria Without Me”, to the ‘Nimbe Adedipe Library. While appreciating the donation, the University Librarian, Dr. Mulikat Salaam, lauded the students for maintaining peace on campus, as she charged them to start contributing their quota in the development of the nation.