After about three month’s absence, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Godwin Oshodin, made a surprise return on Monday, August 25 to the shouts of joy by students and staff, who in their large numbers welcomed him.
He was last seen on campus in May, fuelling speculation about his health, and calls for the appointment of a new vice chancellor by some staff.
Professor Godwin Oshodin
But Oshodin, who wore a grey suit, showed up at the Senate building at about 11am to attend a meeting of the appointment and promotion board.
The UNIBEN branch of three associations – the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU) – condemned calls for his replacement.
Representatives of the three associations, John Alile, S.M. Momoh, and Joel Idonije said it is mischief for anyone to claim that the absence of Oshodin has created tension and slowed down academic activities.
They reiterated at a press conference: “Since [his] absence in May this year, the university has concluded its first semester and students have resumed for the second semester which began in August, 2014.
“Also our graduands have been successfully mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps, while the process of the promotion of all categories of staff is on-going.
“It is sad to note how the pursuit of selfish interest could drive some persons to the point of losing sight of the uniqueness of the university system, whose operations are largely guided by the rule of law.”
They reaffirmed their “implicit confidence and support” for Oshodin and urged those demanding for him to be replaced to check the statutes of UNIBEN.
In his reaction, Oshodin told stakeholders in UNIBEN to ensure that a vice chancellor who has vision succeeds him, imploring that the achievements of his administration should be sustained.
Oshodin, whose tenure expires on November 30, expressed gratitude to God for saving his wife when he spoke at the opening ceremony of a two-day Academia-Industry Forum hosted by the university.
He said the forum was meant to help find means of industrialising the nation.
He commended the Lancaster University, United Kingdom, for providing the environment “for us to forge this alliance which, God willing, will provide the springboard for our institution to be at the forefront in the quest for the industrialisation of country.”
