Who will be Unilag's next VC?

The race for the position of the vice-chancellor, VC, University of Lagos, Unilag, Akoko, is getting hot after the institution’s Governing Council declared the post vacant.
The Council’s resolution followed the expiration of the six-month tenure of the acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ramon Ade Bello. Bello’s appointment was necessitated by the sudden death of the former VC, Professor Tokunboh Sofoluwe, who died of a Cardiac arrest.
According to the university’s rules, an acting appointee to the office of VC shall serve a non-renewable term of six-months only.  Based on Council’s decision, a search was inaugurated among the members of the University Senate to shop for an eligible candidate.

Greenwich News gathered that over 12 aspirants are jostling for the plum post, including Bello and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Babajide Alo, both of who are believed to be the real contenders. Before his temporary appointment, Bello was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Management Services, while Alo served in his present capacity.
However, a rule banning aspirants without a ten-year post-professorial calling has led to grumblings among them.  According to information posted on the university’s website, an eligible candidate must be “a professor of not less than 10 years in one of the disciplines offered by the University of Lagos and not more than 65 years old”.
But a number of the academics have flayed the rule, stating that it was a move to deliberately shut them out.
“We have competent, vibrant and prolific professors who have served in various capacities, as heads of departments, Deans and directors within the university environment, who are affected by the rule. It is undemocratic,” said a professor who would not want his name mentioned.
But Professor Olaide Abass, Chairman, Unilag Alumni, rebutted the allegation of undemocratic practice in the process.

He said: “The university council took the decision in order to get someone with quality and tested experience. Someone who stands out in the society can attract funds and speak for us at international fora.
“You have to consider the age of the university against the age of professorial attainment of a candidate. Someone who must lead a 50-year old institution, like ours, must be of proven experience in various capacities and exhibited great integrity.”

Feelers from Unilag have narrowed the contest to the two leading candidates, Bello and Alo.  A number of staff who volunteered information on the two candidates tend to favour Bello, who they said is more popular with staff and takes issues concerning their welfare seriously.
“I must state honestly that the two of them are eminently qualified. But beyond that, Bello has shown to everyone, particularly junior members of staff that he can run a system that is rancour-free and, more so, effectively.

“Many of the frivolous cases the university spends huge money on are gradually being settled one way or the other. And very importantly, he has no blemish and does not belong to any camp or group on the campus. I am sure he would end up being the only candidate if the screening panellist were to scrutinize records and run an integrity test on each of the candidates. Everyone will know what we are talking about when we get to that point,” said a management staff, who preferred anonymity.