Youths of the host community of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, have pledged to cooperate and support the newly-appointed Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, to ensure his success in office.
They also told the Vice Chancellor to regard Akungba as a second home where he is welcomed and assured of safety at all times.
The youth, under the aegis of Akungba Youth Forum (AYF), made these declarations on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, during a Congratulatory Visit to the Vice Chancellor in his office.
While welcoming the AYF executives, Prof. Ige said it was heartwarming that youths from the University’s primary host community were among the first to visit him.
In his words, I sincerely want to appreciate your coming. You are among the first callers to congratulate me since I assumed office. To me, this shows that Akungba people desire the progress of this University. It also shows that Akungba is a land that yearns for development and progress, and the people are lovers of peace.
Responding to some of the issues raised by the youth, Prof. Ige said, I want to assure you that this administration would do everything within its power to maintain the peace between the University and its host community. I promise you that people from our host community would not be left out in the scheme of things.”
The Vice Chancellor also promised to revamp the Town-Gown relationship towards making the impact of the Institution felt more by people of its host community.
Speaking earlier, the President of the Forum, Mr. Timothy Rotoye, had said that the visit, which was unannounced, was not only meant to congratulate the new Vice Chancellor but also to test his disposition to the youth and people of the town who had clamoured for the appointment of an indigene as Vice Chancellor.
He said they were pleasantly surprised that Prof. Ige warmly welcomed them despite the impromptu nature of the visit. He added that the gesture testified to the excellent human relations and the good heart of the Vice Chancellor.
He said, We have come to felicitate with you and the entire University on your appointment. Truly, we supported our son who also vied for this post, but since it has pleased the Almighty to grant you this grace at this time, we will cooperate with you in order for the University to continue to grow in all ramifications.
We deliberately came unannounced because we wanted to test whether you will welcome us or not. We can now go back and tell our youths that the VC harbors no ill feelings against our people. While we would cooperate with you to have a successful tenure, we will want you to consider our youths and people whenever it is time for admission, employment and other opportunities, he pleaded.
He also called for a more robust relationship between the University and the host community and that the University should re-energise its Corporate Social Responsibility by embarking on projects that will benefit the town, particularly the students who live among them.
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