New AAU Governing Council Directs Acting Vice-Chancellor to to Vacate Office
In a swift move that signals a major shift in the leadership structure at Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, the institution’s Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Asomwan Sonnie Adagbonyin, has been directed by the university’s newly inaugurated Governing Council to vacate his position.
This decision comes just five weeks after the council’s formation, which was spearheaded by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
The development is part of a larger transition plan aimed at appointing a substantive Vice-Chancellor, a key demand that has been persistently pushed by the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Since its formation, the governing council has been tasked with resolving long-standing issues surrounding the university’s administration, including the need for improved funding, staff welfare, and a properly constituted governing board.
Governor Obaseki had on July 18, 2024, inaugurated the seven-man governing council, with Dr. Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen as its chairman. This move followed years of agitation by the AAU chapter of ASUU, which has been vocal about the institution’s leadership vacuum, among other pressing issues. The union had expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of a substantive Vice-Chancellor, the absence of a governing council, and the need for better conditions for academic and non-academic staff.
In a letter confirming his exit, Professor Adagbonyin expressed his gratitude to the university community for their support during his tenure. “I will, by this arrangement, be stepping aside next week and handing over the office of Acting Vice-Chancellor to the newly elected Provost of the College of Medicine, Professor Samuel Olowo, as the new Acting Vice-Chancellor,” Adagbonyin stated.
According to Adagbonyin, the Governing Council announced the transition plan on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. The plan is intended to facilitate the process of appointing a substantive Vice-Chancellor, bringing an end to a period of interim leadership that began when Adagbonyin assumed office on February 8, 2022. His appointment followed the removal of his predecessor, Professor Benson Osadolor, who also served in an acting capacity.
Adagbonyin’s tenure as Acting Vice-Chancellor was marked by modest efforts to improve the institution, a fact he acknowledged in his letter. “I thank the school community for all the support for my team’s modest contributions to the development of the institution,” he said. His words reflect a period of relative stability for the institution, though the academic community continued to push for more concrete leadership and administrative reforms.
The Governing Council’s latest decision is expected to set the stage for a more permanent leadership at AAU. With Professor Samuel Olowo set to take over in an acting capacity, the search for a substantive Vice-Chancellor will likely intensify, as the university seeks to move past its recent administrative challenges and reposition itself as a leading academic institution in Nigeria.
This leadership transition marks a significant step in the university’s journey toward stability, particularly as it addresses the concerns raised by ASUU. The coming weeks will be crucial as the council and the university community work together to ensure a smooth handover and the eventual appointment of a permanent Vice-Chancellor who can steer AAU toward greater heights.
New AAU Governing Council Directs Acting Vice-Chancellor to to Vacate Office
