By Dorcas Elusogbon
Ile-Ife (Osun), July 5, 2022
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, has received the new Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof Simeon Bamire and his Principal officers in the Palace.
While receiving them, the Ooni reiterated his commitment to the progress of the Institution.
The Ooni made this known during the VC’s courtesy visits to the Royal Father in his Palace on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 in Ile-Ife.
He said that the University cannot be separated from the town and charged the University management to pave way for more cordiality between the institution and Ile-Ife.
“Let’s maintain the standard of town and gown between the Institution and the town, for we cannot do without each other, therefore, let’s come together to take the University to higher ground.
“We are not your enemy, but partners in progress. We have decided to utilise all in our capacity for the progress of the University.
“Stop blackmailing us, OAU is the only investment we have in this town, so how can we conspire against it? We are proud of you, make yourselves friendly with this stool and you’ll not regret it,” the Monarch counselled.
According to him, OAU stands out excellently among other Universities, adding that Ife gave the land to the University and therefore cannot wish evil for the school’s management.
The Royal Father stressed that all the efforts of the indigenes over the development of the University cannot be over-emphasised.
He admonished the school authorities to cooperate with the citizenry and pledged his support and that of the entire people of the town for the upliftment of Institution.
“We love you very much, let’s work together harmoniously for the benefit of the school, students and the management as a whole,” he stated.
Earlier, Prof. Bamire, thanked the Ooni for the fatherly role he played during the vacancy tussle.
Bamire said that he has spent almost 45 years in Ile-Ife and that he knows all the nooks and crannies of the town, despite the fact that he’s a bonafide son of Oyan, in Odo-Otin local government.
He assured the Ooni that his administration would solidify the relationship of town and gown and promised to work together with the Royal Father for more progress.
According to him, the Ooni is building a 5,000-bed space hostel for the school, which would solve part of the problems of accommodation the students are experiencing yearly.
The new Vice-Chancellor, however, appealed to the Ooni to use his wide contacts to assist the institution to grow and develop faster.
