UNILORIN 50th Anniversary: Prof Egbewole urges Nigerians to support govt to confront, defeat criminals

AS University of Ilorin roll out drums to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Wahab Egbewole has urged Nigerians to rally together and confront criminals and human cretin among the society.

Speaking at the press briefing to mark the 50th anniversary of the institution on Tuesday, Prof. Egbewole urged Nigerians to put ethnic, religious, and political differences aside to save the country from recurrent origins of violence.

He said all hands must be on deck to ensure the success of the Nigerian project, saying we should all say NO to all forms of extremism across religious, ethnic and political faultlines that define the nation.

He said while partnership with world powers is welcome in defeating the monsters of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity ravaging Nigeria, to which Nigerians, regardless of sectional or sectarian orientations, are victims and casualties, it is another thing entirely for the sovereignty of Nigeria to be compromised, a violation of international law.

“It is in this regard that I urge the American government to assist the Nigerian government with technology and equipment, both software and hardware, to defeat the monsters that make our lives ‘nasty, brutish and short.’

According to him, “if you are emotionally attached to your tribe, religion or political leaning to the point that truth and justice become secondary considerations, your education is useless. Your exposure is useless, if you cannot reason beyond petty sentiments, you are a liability to mankind,” he said quoting former Senate President Chuba Okadigbo.

“The university’s goal is to use the celebration to chart path for the next 50 years, which will be the centenary of our great citadel of learning.

The Vice-Chancellor added that the institution intends to ensure academic stability, innovative thinking, Artificial-driven knowledge, impactful research, improved global ranking, complete automation of all process, exploration of new fields and disciplines, climate-resilient University, secure and safe campus among others.

“The University has passed through the stages of formation, consolidation, actualisation, transformation and innovation. Currently, the University is in the era of innovative reinvention under our smart administration where we build on the past legacies to launch the University into the space,” the Vice-Chancellor added.

“Today, the University of Ilorin stands tall as the University of First Choice and it is renowned for its reinvested stable academic calendar, competent and highly motivated workforce, adoption of technology in University life sustainable funding.

In a sense, the 50th anniversary activities had started since January this year when the Planning Committee was inaugurated and the Jubilee logo was unveiled. There have been events held, programmes organised and projects executed in the spirit of the season,” he said.