The youth said they protested because the management of the
institution did not appoint an indigene of the town as the VC.
They said it rather appointed former Deputy VC (Academics)
to fill the vacant post.
The Nation recalled that the elders and youths of Ile-Ife
had urged the Federal Government to appoint a qualified indigene of the town as
the VC, following the expiration of the tenure of Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede.
The protesters attempted to enter the ICT auditorium where
the name of the VC was announced, but they were denied entry.
After the name was announced, they trooped to the main gate
to mount a roadblock, making it difficult for students and workers of the
university to leave the campus.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, OAU, Ile-Ife,
Owelle Udoji, had earlier announced the appointment Prof. Bamire at a news
conference held at the ICT auditorium.
He said the post of the VC would be vacant by June 7,
following the expiration of the tenure of Prof. Ogunbodede.
Udoji said the council, at its meeting held on December 7
last year, began the processes for the appointment of a new vice chancellor,
who is expected to assume duty on June 7.
In line with the approval of the council, the vacancy was
widely advertised, in compliance with relevant statutes and acts guiding
appointment to the position.
Udoji said: “At a special meeting on February 14, the
council perused the curriculum vitae of the 20 applicants, who indicated
interest in the position. At the end of the exercise, 16 of them were
shortlisted, having met the advertised criteria.
“The interaction with the candidates began on March 14 and
ended on March 16. The 16 candidates appeared before the Joint Council and
Senate Selection Board, with 15 of them present physically and one, at his
request, virtually. The board examined the curriculum vitae, interacted with
each candidate and scored them according to stipulated criteria.
“The three highest-scoring candidates were presented to the council for further consideration, as provided by the law. The exercise of the Joint Selection Board was witnessed by the representatives of the Federal Character Commission, who confirmed that the exercise was fair and transparent and carried out in full compliance with the provisions of the Federal Character Commission Act.”