Osun University’s New VC Talks Tough Against Indiscipline

The newly appointed Vice Chancellor (VC) of the Osun State University, Professor Labo Popoola, says machineries have been put place to fight any form of indiscipline among lecturers and students of the institution.

This is against the backdrop of a recent case of sex scandal involving a lecturer of the school and a final year female student.

At an interactive session with reports on Tuesday in Osogbo, the state’s capital, Professor Popoola said the lecturer involved in the illicit act, after series of investigation, had been sacked by the Governing Council.

He stressed that his action did not represent the moral value upon which the university thrives.

“We have been affected by the crisis that engulfed the university in the last couple of months. We had our crisis but people were still doing their jobs. People were still doing their research and we were still involved in community service.

“Yes, the crisis might have created conflict of confidence among the population of this state and even in Nigeria, but it never stopped our core mandate. We are getting out this crisis strong and lecturers and administrators in the university have all agreed to put this behind us and move on and come out very strongly.

“The good thing is that, the system has means of dealing with them there are disciplinary measures. I’m sure you know what has happened to the lecturer involved. There is no staff of this university that can have an infraction on our values that will go unpunished,” he warned.

The VC while giving his opinion about the university system in Nigeria said it was necessary to have a rethink of what university education was all about, as past happenings in Nigeria had made it difficult for universities to operate as they should.

“We need to have a rethink about the university system in Nigeria. What’s university education all about?

“Until we’re relevant to the society, we cannot claim to be relevant. I think the society should also try to challenge universities in Nigeria to be able to play their own roles in development.

“We have all that it takes to do this, but a lot of issues have occurred in this country as a whole to make it difficult for different institutions to operate the way they should.

“I hope that we get back on track very soon to play our role. Until we’re able to do that, we cannot claim to be relevant to society,” he stressed.

The VC also highlighted that the university was more than ever committed to teaching, research and community service.