By DADA AYOKHAI
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has faced criticism for alleged double standards in appointing Vice Chancellors for the state’s two universities.
Governor Okpebholo, in fulfilling his role as Visitor for both the two state-owned universities, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and Edo State University, Iyamho, announced the appointments of their respective Vice Chancellors.
In an effort to cater to the desires of his constituents in Edo Central, where he hails from, Gov Okpevbolo recently appointed Prof. Eunice Omonzegie as the substantive Vice Chancellor for Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
According to sources, the appointment somehow laid to rest the strong calls for an indigene of the Edo Central to be named the substantive Vice Chancellor.
The Vice Chancellor of the institution and the chairman of its Governing Council both hail from the state.
Chief Dan Orbih, a PDP chieftain from Etsako Central, serves as the chairman of the University’s Governing Council.
However, regarding Edo State University, Iyamho the governor deployed different criteria.
Despite growing demands for an indigene from the locality or, preferably, the Edo North district to be appointed as Vice Chancellor, Gov Okpevbolo surprised many by looking outside the region for the appointment.
Ironically, he appointed a non-indigene,
Prof. Victor Adetimirin Olawale, who was not even an academic staff member of the institution, was appointed as the Vice Chancellor over Prof. Ganiyu Oboh, an indigene of Etsako, who reportedly topped the screening exercise.
To further exacerbate the situation, Gov Okpebholo chose an outside, Prof. Olusegun Akinyinka, as chairman for the institution’s Governing Council who coincidentally also hails from the same locality as the Vice Chancellor.
Observers contend that a state-owned university should prioritise sourcing personnel from within its own community before looking elsewhere.
They point to the case of AAU, Ekpoma, which is the first state-owned university established in Nigeria, noting that it has never appointed a Vice Chancellor from outside the state.
It remains uncertain how Gov Okpevbolo intends to address this dilemma.
Controversy Trails Okpebholo’s V-C Appointments for Edo Universities
