The governing council of the University of Ilorin has approved the promotion of 51 academic staff to the positions of Professors and Readers in various faculties of the institution.

In a statement by the university Registrar, Mr. Adeleke Alfanla, said that 20 Readers were promoted to the professorial level while 31 Senior Lecturers were upgraded to the position of Readers.

The statement also said that the promotion followed a recommendation from the university’s Appointments and Promotions Committee, which was presented to the Council meeting on Monday, January 27, 2025, by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Wahab Egbewole SAN.

The statement said, “The Appointments and Promotions Committee (A&PC), at its 186th meeting held on Monday, 27th January 2025, considered the recommendations from the 2024 promotion exercise for the promotion of some eligible members of the academic staff of the University to the positions of Professor and Reader.”

The 20 professors, whose approval takes effect from October 1, 2024, include Olufunmilayo A. Abiodun and Fausat I. Kolawole, Department of Home Economics and Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture; A.G. Animasawun, Peace and Conflict Studies, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Arts; A.S. Afolabi, Department of History and International Studies, Faculty of Arts; E.E. Anyebe, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Clinical Sciences; H. M. Omokanye, Department of Orthorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences.

Others are K.T. Omopupa, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences; L.K. Mustapha and Kehinde K. Kadir, Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences; A.O. Akanbi, Department of Science Education, Faculty of Education; J. A. Adeniran, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology; Olubunmi A. Mokuolu, Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology; A. M. Ismail, Department of Business Law, Faculty of Law; and O. A. Iyiola, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences.

Also promoted as Professors are Shakirat I. Bello, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences; A. A. Kilishi, Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences; A. Y. Ahmed, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Social Sciences; O. A. Fawole, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences; Nusirat Elelu, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; and L. O. Raji, Department of Theriogenology and Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

The 31 new Readers include Dr S.O. Akanbi, Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Faculty of Agriculture; Dr A.O. Dauda, Department of Home Economics and Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture; Dr Folusho A. Bankole, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture; and Dr A.A. Aliy, Department of Arabic, Faculty of Arts; Dr A. Mahmoud-Mukadam, Department of Arabic, Faculty of Arts; Dr Theresa N. Odeigha, Department of History and International Studies, Faculty of Arts, and Dr T.O. Ayinde, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences.

Others are Dr Grace G. Ezeoke, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences; Dr S.O. Onidare, Department of Telecommunication Science, Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences; Dr Eniola K. Ola-Alani, Department of Adult and Primary Education, Faculty of Education; Dr M.A. Lawal, Department of Arts Education, Faculty of Education; Dr S.O. Olatunji, Department of Arts Education, Faculty of Education; Dr A.A. Falade, Department of Educational Technology, Faculty of Education; Dr I. Ologele, Department of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education, Faculty of Education; and Dr K.O. Afolabi, Department of Science Education, Faculty of Education.

Also promoted Readers are: Dr Khadijat S. Ameen, Department of Science Education, Faculty of Education; Dr Dorcas S. Daramola, Department of Social Science Education, Faculty of Education; Dr M.O. Ibitoye, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology; Dr A.O. Otuoze, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology; Dr Taibat R. Adebiyi, Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Environmental Sciences; Dr A.B. Ola, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Environmental Sciences; Dr Khadijat A. Abdulkareem; Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences; Dr T. Garuba, Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences; Dr S. Oyedeji, Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences; and Dr E.O. Dunmade, Department of Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, Faculty of Management Sciences;

The rest are Dr Iyiola T. Akindele, Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences; Dr F.U. Attah, Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Dr O. K. Yusuff, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences; Dr A.I. Abdulrahman, Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences; Dr A. Raji, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences; and Dr M. Adam, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Former Governor of Oyo State and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, yesterday, chided the erstwhile governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande, over a claim that he (Ladoja) had information on how the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ige, was assassinated.

It would be recalled that Akande had, in an interview conducted by Edmund Obilo, alleged that Ladoja had information on Ige’s assassination and that the former Oyo governor withdrew the murder case from the court.

Akande said: “I was the Chief Security Officer of Osun State at the time, not Oyo State. Lam Adesina, who was the Chief Security Officer of Oyo State, withdrew the case from the court. He might be able to tell you more. I believe he has more information on Bola Ige’s death.”

But Ladoja, while addressing the media in Ibadan, said Akande lied against him and that he did not at any time withdraw the murder case of Ige from the court while he was governor as claimed by Akande.

He, therefore, urged Akande to either withdraw the statement or be ready to face legal options. Ladoja said: “All options are open, including legal action, except the statement is withdrawn. I now understand why the likes of Chief Ayo Adebanjo and others said the books written by Akande are full of lies and distortions.

“I did nothing to harm the course of justice in the assassination case of Bola Ige. I gave all necessary support to the prosecution of the case even till the apex court.

“Chief Bola Ige was assassinated on December 23, 2001. I got to the office on May 29, 2003, which was 18 months after the assassination of Bola Ige.

“We are not all happy as a result of Bola Ige’s death, and we are all concerned about his death, I was very close to Ige while alive.”

The Police Service Commission has denied issuing a directive for the immediate retirement of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

On Friday, the commission ordered officers over 60 years old or have served for more than 35 years to proceed with immediate retirement.

This directive came amid controversies surrounding the IG’s tenure, as he turned 60 last year.

Despite clarifications from both the police and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, concerns over the IG’s tenure have persisted.

In a statement on Monday, the PSC’s Head of Media, Ikechukwu Ani, clarified that the IG was not included in the commission’s directive, adding that the commission has no authority over Egbetokun.

He said, “The PSC has been inundated with calls, messages, and reports on the status of the IG following the commission’s decision, directing all serving police officers who have served for 35 years or have attained the age of 60 years to proceed on immediate retirement, in line with the nation’s existing laws.

“The commission wishes to state that it does not have the constitutional powers to determine the appointment or exit of the Inspector-General of Police.

“The Police Service Commission is one of the Federal Executive Bodies established under Section 153(m) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended. By virtue of Paragraph 30, Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution and Clause 6(1) of the Police Service Commission (Establishment) Act, 2001, the commission is charged with the responsibilities of appointment, promotion, dismissal, and exercising disciplinary control over persons holding offices in the Nigeria Police Force (except the Inspector-General of Police).”

Ani explained that the IG is a presidential appointee, chosen based on the advice of the Police Council.

He said, “The law is clear on the mandate of the commission, and it does not extend to the Inspector-General of Police, who is an appointee of the President, with the advice of the Police Council.

“The commission at its 1st extraordinary meeting of the 6th management board on Friday, January 31, 2025, only considered and made a decision on the regularisation of the date of first appointment of CADET ASPs/Inspector Force Entrants. This has nothing to do with the Inspector-General of Police or his office.

“The commission wishes to state that it is comfortable with the size of the powers bestowed upon it by the constitution and is not interested in seeking additional powers that are not backed by law.

“It notes that it has maintained a close and complementary working relationship with the Inspector-General of Police in the overall interest of the Nigeria Police Force.”