By Ridwanullahi Odofin
Ruminating over the trajectory of Kwara State University, Malete, since it existence 12 years ago, one does not need a soothsayer to tell how it has transversed to a 21st century university amid niggling challenges. The following questions will come to mind: How is KWASU faring without subvention? What does it take to run a university with Internally Generated Revenue? What is the implication of the IGR on the smooth running of the university? How has a young university been able to stay afloat consistently over the years? Every rational and perceptive observer should know that the road is rough.
With a right administrator at the helms of affairs, who is steering the ship alongside other courageous pilots, KWASU scaled through. From Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, the pioneer Vice Chancellor to Prof. Muhammed Mustapha Akanbi SAN, the second substantive Vice Chancellor, KWASU is overcoming all the challenges, exploring all avenues, and regularly servicing the activities that bring about sustainable development. One will concede that the university is led by people who are principled and who are actuated by higher ideals.
Inspite of the paucity of funds which sees Kwara State University operate on Internally Generated Revenue as well as loans from banks to run the university, the welfare of the students is always at the forefront by the Student Affairs Unit of the university.
The Unit prides itself as the fulcrum of support for the students while providing quality leadership through strategic representation at all times. It constantly connects with students seamlessly, making life easy for them both on campus and off campus.
This can be seen in the recent renovations of all hostels earlier this semester, leaving no stone unturned in the process. Prior to that, the Dean, Student Affairs, Professor Moshood Mahmood Jimba, led a delegation comprising of the porters for the inspection of all the 32 school controlled hostels. The inspection helped to detect weak spots in different sections of the hostels and was properly noted for modifications.
Emphasising the need to have all students on campus, the Vice-chancellor, Professor Muhammed Mustapha Akanbi SAN said “A factor that fuels anti-social and immoral acts such as illicit use of drugs, cybercrimes and cultism in universities is the fact that majority of students live off campus. This act has denied today’s university students the culture of university life which would have been embedded in him or her. Such student neither goes through the university nor does the university go through him or her.
“The student only comes to school when lectures are scheduled and spends the major part of the university life outside the campus. Such student is thus exposed to the vagaries of life, prone to associating with antisocial elements and gets easily influenced. When students are not within university facilities, it is difficult for the university authorities to exercise control or offer full-fledged guidance over them.
“Currently, a large percentage of our students stay off-campus. As a responsible institution, we have embarked on a private sector initiative under the arrangement of Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) to bring majority of our students on campus. The University has started the Smart City Student Hostel Project. The project consists of 10 mega hostels, each of which provides one thousand, one hundred and twenty (1,120) bed spaces. It is our belief that this project will go a long way in solving students’ accommodation problems and facilitate the inculcation of the fast eroding culture of university life in our students.
“We are therefore calling on private and corporate investors to key into this initiative that will enhance our drive towards producing the total person in our graduates. We also passionately seek the support of government and the NUC in the formulation of policies that will make it mandatory for all students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria to live on campus,” the VC said.
Beyond hostel renovation, the Student Affairs Unit spearheaded the flag off of 35 intra campus shuttle recently commissioned by the Vice-Chancellor to ease transportation system. This, is no doubt, provide needed upgrade amid consistent increase in students population.
Another reason to sing the praise of the Student Affairs Unit is the implementation of NYSC mobilisation exercise for students which is timely and smooth since its commencement. There has been no setbacks nor drawbacks. Students have been successfully mobilised and still being for NYSC. This is no doubt commendable.
The Unit also contributed immensely in restoring sanity in the Student Union election that was suspended last year. The reason for the suspension was aptly described by the Sub-Dean Student Affairs, Dr Olayiwola Olorishade, who was part of the organising committee.
“The university took a step to avert likely crises. It was getting to a point that the university realised contestants were not only having godfathers but also having big time sponsors from outside which the university felt it is not good enough for the system since the election of Student Union should not be a money venture but one that will provide opportunity for all students to participate so that the best among them can emerge.
“Apart from that, it was also observed that people with nefarious activities and questionable character were getting involved and some people are constituting themselves as authority. You have to see us before we can say you are good to go in the university system. That is not good for the system.
“The university in its wisdom decided to suspend the election for that time but they have started to take step to ensure that students election still hold and students have their representatives doing what they ought to do in the interest of the students.”
Lo and behold! The students eventually held a seamless election that produced the most acceptable representation within the first quarter of this year. The Danshitta led student Union has been doing well since it’s emergence.
After all said, is there any better way to set high standards for students? Is the Student Affairs Unit spearheading a complete line of duty? Have they successfully implemented the Vice-Chancellor’s mandate of a 21st century university? Yes. It is needless asking for what has been freely handed to us.
Ridwanullahi Odofin is the Editor, Deanery Watch, KWASU.
