Student leaders in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko have been tasked to always adopt dialogue and consultation in engaging management of the institution.
The deputy vice chancellor of the institution, Prof. Rotimi Ajayi said this at a two-day training workshop for student leaders of the institution at the National Institute for educational and Administration, NIEPA, Ondo.
The annual workshop was designed to implant leadership etiquettes and responsible student unionism in every elected student leaders in the university. The theme of this year’s event was Leadership and Responsible Unionism.
Prof. Ajayi, who stood in for the vice chancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko attributed the prevailing peace in the university to the dialogue between the management and past student union leaders.
While admonishing them to follow the legacy lay down by their predecessors, the Don however maintained that it would a shame on them if the university experience student unrest during their tenure.
“If your predecessors had worked for stability for over five years, I see no reason why you should not sustain the tempo. Don’t allow yourself to be misguided; you must be in constant touch with the management through the dean of students’ affairs to resolve any pressing issue because student is at the centre of our administration”, he said.
The DVC also read the riot act to them. “You are not allowed to address any student on any agitation or demand when you have not discussed such with the dean of students’ affairs. You are not allowed to proceed on any procession not allowed by the management.
You must learn to respect constituted authorities and all staff of the university. You must obey all rules and regulations as stipulated in our handbooks. It is the most illegal for anybody to disrupt lectures under any condition. Lectures and exams are the most sacrosanct activities in the school and we won’t allow anybody to disrupt them.
You must not interfere in any disciplinary action. Your duty does not extend to those aspects. If the president has to be disciplined today, we will do that and if we do, heaven will not fall; nobody is above the law-but god forbid he does that”
He challenged them to complement the effort of the management to move the school forward rather than sabotaging it through unnecessary unrest.
Earlier, the dean, student affairs, Dr Olujide Ajidahun said the workshop was to let the student leaders know their core values as leaders, give them opportunity to bare their minds and put them on the right track of leadership.
He implored them to justify the confidence repose in them by their colleagues who voted them into power by serving them diligently. “Service should be uppermost in your hearts. As leaders, you must deliver; it is not how much you get from a system but how much you give. So work as a servant-leader”, he urged.
Some of the students commended the initiative
