Let me thank you for your active support to me as Chairman of Senate and 1st Vice-Chancellor of this University these past 5 years or so precisely from February 16, 2011. It was indeed a unique privilege to have met and worked with all of you to ensure that we start off FUNAI on a tradition based upon open inquiries and forthrightness. We give all glory to God for the enablement.
We as Senate, remain the bastion of all developments in the University. It is the nucleus of all University activities; it is a non-variant indication of the health of the University. In fact, it is well known that universities as academic citadels are totally committed to quality research through teaching (training of students) and applications of such research findings for the benefit of the society both in loco and globally. A University must ‘‘lead-the-society’’. The creation of knowledge and the growing of talents are the University’s greatest service to society. We must imbibe the quality culture in our teaching, research and community service. Quality is a ‘sine qua non in a universal enterprise!
Sometimes, I wonder if the perceived decadence of the society is not largely our fault. We are not leading the society, maybe we are not allowed; but perhaps, we can use our ‘‘knowledge-power’’ to wrestle the society from the looming self-destruct path!
In Universities worldwide; the Senate remains the most important institution. Therefore, our successes in positively transforming this University to the best amongst equals is solely due to the efforts of Senate. Our focus is to make FUNAI one of the best Universities in 2020.
The University Senate has contributed so much to the stability and progress of this University in the past 5 years. I want to thank members who have consistently attended Senate every month throughout my tenure; your contributions to our deliberations remain indelible. I pray that the Lord will bless you in all your undertakings. We thus embarked through innovation, open, transparent and auditable strategies, on our resolve to make the University a unique and positively differentiated national institution and place her at the commanding heights of internationally acclaimed knowledge-producing institutions especially in our national contribution towards self-sufficiency in food production and industrialisation.
Our tenure has faced so many challenges but we have introduced innovations in research, teaching including institutional integration, expansion, assimilation and consolidation; major academic initiatives, openness, transparency and a new model of institutional governance that ensures focussed leadership. We are ICT enabled; we have a busy but a relatively clean campus; our security has improved tremendously and we are prepared to run a 24/7 University, provided we can continue to recruit appropriate quality staff and manage disruptions to our academic calendar to zero tolerance.
The challenges of globalization propelled by ICT and the need to continuously innovate our deliveries in curriculum development should remain the cornerstone of our development- thought process. We are faced with competition, not only from our public-funded universities but more so, from emerging private universities who are free from shackles of powerful unionism and take advantage of the emerging large class of retired professors who are still willing and able to provide academic leadership. What needs also to be pointed out is that University is most blessed to have the selfless support and contribution of its Council, especially the incumbent Chief Engr Anayo Onwuegbu and members, who have been some of the wisest and most capable community leaders.
I want to place on record my gratitude to our Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the Deans, Heads of Departments and units. I also remember the principal officers – the Registrar, the University Librarian and the Bursar. All are excellent professionals and proper gentlemen!
Finally; I must remember that I am only retiring from the office of the Vice-Chancellor and that I still have, by the grace of God, some 4 years more in the Nigerian University System before I can retire and be ‘free-at-last’. Our University is teeming with talent devoted to the good fortune of the University; the open display of camaraderie and team spirit of the University Senate to surmount great challenges have been my most cherished ally in this work.
As I relieve myself of my duties as Vice-Chancellor of FUNAI, my confidence in the University’s bright future is further boosted, not the lease, by the thought that it will be led albeit for a limited period, by another distinguished member of this Senate. NOW! It is time to say goodbye. Thank you all. Take good care of yourself. And Adieu!
O Ibidapo-Obe D
istinguishedProfessor
Vice Chancellor FUNAI