Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved a two-year extension of the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, Prof. Clement Adebooye.
Adeleke announced the decision on Monday during the inauguration of the reconstituted Governing Council of the university at the Osun State Government House in Osogbo.
According to a statement by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, the governor said Adebooye had initially declined the tenure extension before subsequently accepting the offer.
Adeleke explained that the extension was approved in the interest of the university, particularly to strengthen its governance structure, maintain continuity and avert a leadership vacuum that could disrupt the institution’s administration.
The governor also retained Prof. Adewale Oladipo as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, citing his experience and familiarity with the university system.
Other members inaugurated into the reconstituted council are Gbadegesin Lawal, Lateef Olalekan Olayanju, Akinola Franklin Omoniyi, Funminiyi Awotide, Orija Samuel Adebayo, Adewale Adetayo Bola and Olawale Oludayo Abolade.
Addressing the council members, Adeleke charged them to carry out their responsibilities with humility, integrity, courage and commitment to the public interest.
He also urged the council to maintain a harmonious working relationship with the university management, warning against the emergence of competing centres of authority.
“I charge you to work harmoniously with the Vice-Chancellor and management, stressing that the governing council and management should not operate as competing centres of authority,” the governor said.
He added that both the council and management must operate within the law and respect one another in pursuit of the advancement of the university.
Adeleke described Osun State University as “one of the enduring investments of the people of Osun State”, noting that its academic and research activities contribute to the economic, social and intellectual development of both the state and Nigeria.
Earlier, Oladipo, who also chaired the dissolved governing council, thanked Adeleke for retaining him in recognition of the achievements recorded by the previous council.
He listed some of the accomplishments of the dissolved council and pledged that the reconstituted body would consolidate the gains while working to move the university to greater heights.
In his remarks, Adebooye expressed appreciation to Adeleke, members of the Osun State Executive Council and the newly inaugurated council for their support and participation in the inauguration.
The vice-chancellor pledged that the university management would continue to collaborate with the governing council and other stakeholders to sustain UNIOSUN’s growth and strengthen its position among leading universities in Africa and beyond.
