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By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
Former Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Prof. Labode Popoola has revealed how he confronted entrenched interests, resisted pressure and implemented difficult reforms to rescue the institution from collapse, declaring that his administration rebuilt the university into a nationally respected institution.
Popoola said his five-year tenure was characterised by battles against an entrenched system resistant to accountability, adding that his determination to restore institutional discipline required decisions that sometimes involved stepping on toes.
He spoke on Saturday at the presentation of his book, Navigating Stormy Waters: My Voyage Through UNIOSUN, held at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
Recounting the challenges he inherited, the former vice-chancellor said he initially attempted to resolve the problems through persuasion but resorted to tougher measures when his approach failed.
“Given the scenario that I inherited, the first tool I thought I should apply was persuasion. I did so much of that. But it did not work. When all of that failed, it became imminent for me to step on toes,” he said.
Describing his disposition towards confrontation, Popoola recalled his lawyer’s assessment of his personality, saying he was unwilling to initiate a fight but would not retreat when confronted.
“I do not start a fight, but I don’t run away from battles. I will not start, but when it starts, I’m not going to run away from such battles,” he said.
He maintained that the reforms were necessary to restore the university’s institutional integrity, stressing that he had never given or received bribes throughout his career.
“I have never ever in my life taken bribe or given it in any form. I have never,” he declared.
Assessing his administration’s impact, Popoola said the university was saved from total collapse and repositioned through reforms that strengthened accountability, transparency, ethics, professionalism, morality, stability and academic culture.
“We saved UNIOSUN from totally collapsing. Those who know the truth know it. We rebuilt that university and we left a university that had become nationally renowned and respected,” he said.
He added that his administration also established structures aimed at making the institution self-sustaining.
Popoola further attributed UNIOSUN’s emergence as Nigeria’s best state university to a sustained institutional development process rather than an overnight achievement.
“Today the university is ranked as the best state university in Nigeria. And those who know know that such a thing does not happen overnight. It takes time. For a university that is just about 20 years old to be the number one state university in the country. It was a process that led to that,” he said.
Supporting Popoola’s account of the institutional battles, a professor at King’s College London and former member of the UNIOSUN Governing Council, Prof. Abiodun Alao, said the university had previously operated an entrenched system he described as a ‘cash and carry economy’.
Alao said the governing council, under Prof. Yusuf Valli, which appointed Popoola, was determined to dismantle illegal practices, although the process generated considerable resistance.
“What actually happened was the cash and carry economy that was existing met a new determined governing council under Professor Yusuf Valli that was resolute, determined to curb all forms of illegal activities. It wasn’t easy, but we fought it. We fought them,” he said.
He described Popoola’s administration as a period when UNIOSUN began showing signs of becoming an institution of global standards.
Alao also challenged university stakeholders to prioritise knowledge creation over personal enrichment, arguing that the fundamental purpose of higher education was the production of knowledge.
“People should realise that knowledge is more important than wealth. Because you look after wealth, whereas knowledge looks after you,” he said.
He urged university authorities to establish effective structures for managing institutional conflicts, noting that disagreements were inevitable in human organisations but should not derail their core responsibilities.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Peter Olapegba, said the book offered valuable insights into the complexities of university administration, particularly the difficult decisions, competing expectations and responsibilities confronting institutional leaders.
He described leadership as requiring vision, courage, wisdom, resilience and strategic thinking, expressing optimism that the publication would stimulate discussions on university governance and the future of higher education.
In his keynote address, former Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof. Lanre Fagboun, identified inadequate funding, pressure from staff unions, indiscipline, religious and ethnic interests, employee demands and institutional politics as major challenges confronting university administrators.
Fagboun, who spoke on ‘Academic Leadership: The Realities and Challenges of University Governance’, recalled that he experienced industrial action within three months of assuming office as vice-chancellor, alongside several other major challenges.
He said university leaders were expected to deliver results regardless of prevailing circumstances, urging them to demonstrate courage, empathy, honesty, inclusiveness and vision.
He also warned against appointments based on religious affiliation, ethnicity, place of origin or personal connections, insisting that competence and character should determine appointments in academic institutions.
Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Wale Babalakin, commended Popoola’s intellectual capacity, industry and integrity, stressing the importance of documenting professional experiences and knowledge for future generations.
Babalakin said academics should not allow their knowledge and experiences to disappear with them, but should translate them into written records from which future generations could learn.
Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Peter Okebukola, also praised Popoola’s leadership, describing him as one of the outstanding vice-chancellors produced by the Nigerian university system.
Reviewing the publication, Vice-Chancellor of Edo State University, Uzairue, Prof. Victor Adetimirin, described the 345-page book as an important contribution to conversations about university administration and institutional reforms.
He said the 12-chapter publication, which includes supporting documents, chronicles Popoola’s professional journey, international experiences, mentorship and the governance challenges surrounding UNIOSUN’s multi-campus structure.
Adetimirin noted that the book also examined the respective responsibilities of government, governing councils, university management, staff, students and parents in building sustainable institutions.
He said its lessons could encourage administrators confronted with dysfunctional institutions to remain committed to reforms, accountability and responsible leadership.
