AAU : Obaseki Inaugurates 7-Man Governing Council
…Urged them to help rebuild Varsity to enviable height
By Rosemary Okoduwa
Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, Thursday, inaugurated the newly appointed governing council for the State owned Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma with a charge to members to work assiduously, alongside other stakeholders, to help in resuscitating the institution to take it to the desirable greater heights.
Governor Obaseki said “Your appointment into the AAU Governing Council is based on your achievements in your various fields, coupled with other qualities which we know would help to grow and rebrand our dear University in line with the dreams of our father, Prof. Ambrose Folorusho Alli.
“This inauguration is in furtherance of our vision to reposition this institution to a world-class one. It is very refreshing that we have gotten to this junction after several years of working very hard with stakeholders both within and outside the University to find a workable model that will help us reposition this institution which has so much promise at its inception to engender progress for our people.
“This University in its early years attained such academic excellence and was ranked very highly within academic circles, not only in Nigeria but on the continent. By the time we came into office, the Ambrose Alli University we saw was not the University of the dream of Prof Ambrose Alli. It was, in fact, a shadow of its old self. At this point, we commissioned ourselves that we have to revisit the vision of the founding fathers of this school. To reposition the University to attain a world-class standard where merit, and academic excellence would be the guiding principles of the institution’s operations.
The Edo state governor then enjoined the 7-man governing council that “Your expertise is much needed at this point to help fashion a way out of the woods. I will enjoin you to be firm in your dealings with all. Future generations will surely record it in your favour that you contributed your quota to the growth of our great institution.
Responding on behalf of other members of the governing council, the chairman, Dr. Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen promised to contribute their individual and collective quota towards the growth of the university.
“We want to promise you that my colleagues an I are determined to work day and night in assisting you to bring about a positive renaissance of AAU. To bring about the thrusting of AAU to a new orbit where it can be self-sustaining. Where AAU will become a university that would be recognized in Nigeria, nay the whole world.
“My members and I are determined to deploy most efficiently, our talents, our reach, our time and our treasure in carrying out the assignment u have given us in trust. We are going to connect a pipe to you, Your Excellency. AAU is like a malnourished child now. A child who has suffered from a measles attack. When a child suffers from measles, there is a retrogression in developmental milestones. A child who was walking before, very fit, but now, after measles attack, is now unable to walk. He has to be assisted to re-learn how to walk and then run. We are going to need oxygen and I belief that you are able, you are willing and determined to give us the oxygen to revitalise, to re-infuse, and bring a new dawn, a new reawakening to this citadel of learning, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.”
The highpoint of the ceremony was the formal induction of the Governing Council conducted by Governor Godwin Obaseki, witnessed by top government functionaries, the University’s management staff led by the University’s Acting-Vice Chancellor, Professor Asomwan Sonnie Adagbonyin, and others.