Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved a two-year extension of the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, Prof. Clement Adebooye.

A statement signed by the UNIOSUN Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, obtained in Osogbo, said Adeleke announced the extension on Monday while inaugurating the reconstituted Governing Council of the university at the Osun State Government House in Osogbo.

The governor said Adebooye initially declined the offer to extend his tenure but later accepted it.

He said the decision to extend Adebooye’s tenure was taken in the interest of the university to strengthen its governance structure, ensure continuity and prevent any vacuum that could disrupt its administration.

In the reconstituted council, the governor retained Prof. Adewale Oladipo as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, citing his experience and understanding of the university system.

Other members inaugurated into the council include Alhaji Gbadegesin Lawal, Alhaji Lateef Olalekan Olayanju, Mr Akinola Franklin Omoniyi, Chief Funminiyi Awotide, Mr Orija Samuel Adebayo, Mrs Adewale Adetayo Bola and Mrs Olawale Oludayo Abolade.

Addressing the new council members, Adeleke urged them to discharge their responsibilities with humility, integrity, courage and commitment to the public interest.

He said, “I charge you to work harmoniously with the Vice-Chancellor and management, stressing that the governing council and management should not operate as competing centres of authority.”

He said the two arms must function within the law and with mutual respect towards achieving the advancement of the university.

He described UNIOSUN as “one of the enduring investments of the people of Osun State”, adding that its academic and research activities contributed to the economic, social and intellectual development of the state and Nigeria.

Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Prof. Oladipo, who also chaired the dissolved council, expressed appreciation to the governor for retaining him based on the achievements recorded by the previous council.

Oladipo highlighted some of the accomplishments of the dissolved council and pledged that the reconstituted council would build on the gains recorded and work towards taking the university to greater heights.

In his vote of thanks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebooye, thanked Governor Adeleke, members of the State Executive Council and the newly inaugurated Governing Council for honouring the occasion.

Adebooye pledged that the university management would continue to work with the council and other stakeholders to sustain the institution’s growth and position UNIOSUN among leading universities in Africa and beyond.