The management of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State has appointed a student of the institution, Olasubomi Olopade, as the 2021 ‘One-day Vice-Chancellor’.
Bowen, a leading private university in Nigeria established by the Nigerian Baptist Convention, has made it a tradition to appoint a One-day Vice-Chancellor in a keenly contested annual competition during which an undergraduate student of the school assumes office for 24hours.
Olopade, a 500 Level Law student of the University who clinched victory in this year’s competition, assumed office on Wednesday, 16th June.
The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, said one of the uniqueness of the University is that Bowen allows her students to taste and know what leadership entails in practical terms.
In a statement signed by Mr Toba Adaramola, Head, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, the VC said, “As it is the practice, Mr Olopade Olasubomi will perform all the constitutional roles of the Vice-Chancellor for a day in office. He will preside over all meetings, receive visitors, treat files, use all the paraphernalia of office of the Vice-Chancellor and above all, he will receive the salary of the Vice-Chancellor for one day.
“We are structured to be different from others. We are raised in the fear of God and we are bound to excel because God is involved. Bowen builds the spirit of entrepreneurship in all students. Think of how to be responsibleand above all, give the platform for emerging leaders.”
Earlier in his speech during an interview session at the University Radio Station, the ‘One-day Vice-Chancellor’ expressed his appreciation to God, his parents and friends for their support, saying he had come to realize the need not to give up as he tried to occupy the position during the year 2020 contest but failed.
However, he said that he was resolute not to allow a repeat of the mistakes he made during the last contest, hence his success story.
Assessing the roles of a Vice-Chancellor, he said it is demanding and challenging. Olopade said that his mantra for his one-day service was ‘Service with results.’
During his visit to students’ hostels, the One-day VC reportedly warned hostel managers to be more diligent saying he was determined to address welfare issues affecting the students as well as the members of the University community.
Olopade expressed satisfaction with the system that produced him and his runner ups describing it as credible. He said he saw the other two runner ups, Miss Areo Ibukun, a 400 level Economics student, and Mr Joshua Ajala, a 400 level Statistics student, as winners, stressing that “We are all winners.”
The ‘One-day Vice-Chancellor’ was billed to hand over power to the substantive VC on Thursday, 17th June, exactly 24 hours after assumption of office.
