The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilesa, Osun State, Professor Taiwo Asaolu, has lamented land grabbing and illegal occupation of campus land and pressure from other stakeholders.
Asaolu said many vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities are facing numerous challenges in the administration of their institutions..
He stated this during the Second Bursary and Internal Audit Annual Lecture of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, on Wednesday.
He said, “As I’m speaking with you, we have illegal residents on our campus, rearing goats, chickens and others. We have taken the Osun Rangers (local security operatives) there to chase them, but they are still there.
“We have land grabbers whose fathers have collected compensation. They said they didn’t know anything about it, so they want to retrieve the land. Not only do they want to retrieve the land, but they have also started construction, only to know that they mean business, and these are people who are bold enough to take us to court.
“So, if we are talking about the university, you can know what is in there. In Ijesa land, we have traditional rulers, so many of them, and when you talk about the University of Ilesa, of course, the university belongs to them, so whatever you are doing, recruitment, admission, and all others, you must reckon with them.
“Also, you have diverse and conflicting stakeholders’ interests. The University of Ilesa is a new university. We have recruited from other student unions. But you have us, as you have said here. We have recruited from student unions, tutors and staff. Academic, non-teaching technologists, and so many of them. But I will tell you it is not easy. We are dealing with the students, parents, management, staff, teachers and other stakeholders”
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