In an ancient midlands town, nestled between the lush green hills and serene blue rivers that flourished the region, there was a story that passed down through generations.
It was a story of resilience, bravery, and the inexplicable ways of fate even in the face of stiff competition for resources with other tribes. It was the tale of a beloved principal of an academy located in the region, whose wisdom was revered by all.
One fateful night when the speck of human daily toiling had shed from eyes and sleep beckoned, a storm unlike any other brewed over the ancient land, with the sky darkened ominously and the winds howled through the academy’s fence of the great oak trees.
Fearful of the blizzard that threatened to tear their world asunder, elders of the land were rallied. The academy principal stood calm and composed, his imposing presence on the war front was a beacon of strength and assurance of triumph for his followers.
As the storm raged, the principal, surrounded by aides and supported by ancestors of the land, united their wisdom to ensure the academy emerge unscathed and fulfill its missions to mankind, chiefly among them, impacting knowledge.
And so the storm struck with great ferocity, thunder roared, and lightning split the sky above the land, illuminating the ancient land with blinding flashes.
In the eye of the storm, mysterious figures appeared, cloaked in shadows with sinister intent, but the conjoined wisdom of the elders prevailed.
Fast forward to modern day, the recent publicity surrounding Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo, its response to the issues that brought it to the forefront of media publicity, inevitable reactions by concerned people and the swift turn of event that reiterated the institutions balance on the cardinal pillars on which it was founded could be finely related to the above tale of that academy in the ancient midlands town and its principal.
There is no window-dressing the fact that in recent time, the University community was shaken by two distressing and distracting incidents.
These events raised concerns about safety, security, and the well-being of its members. Amidst this turmoil, the university management faced an unprecedented challenging period that demanded immediate, transparent, and compassionate responses.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Timothy Adebayo, and his management team, comprising of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Muyiwa Popoola; the Registrar, Dr Jadesola Babatola; Bursar, Mr Ayodele Olusanwo; and Acting Librarian , Dr Olutoyin Oso, responded with resolute action and unwavering dedication to addressing the crisis.
The University swiftly provided counseling and support services for students through a town hall meeting, ensuring that those in need of support had access to professional help.
Carefully, the University management employed transparent communication with regular updates provided to the university community and even the public through the media, outlining the steps being taken to address the incidents, ensure justice, and prevent future occurrences. This transparency helped to rebuild trust, confidence and allay fears.
Since the cases were made public through social media and conventional media, government interest and concerns were foreseeable.
The University welcomed such concerns with open hands, collaborating with the authorities and law enforcement agencies to ensure that investigations were thorough and perpetrators were brought to justice.
This collaboration demonstrated the institutions commitment to upholding the law and protecting the image of its community.
When a storm of any magnitude rages as fiercely as the one ACU witnessed, it is wise to conduct a self-appraisal without ego or displays of self-importance.
With modesty and humility, the university established a task force to review existing policies and recommend additional measures to prevent such incidents.
Staff from various units that had roles to play in both incidents were invited to appear before a panel set up by the university, with the view to synchronizing chronologically moments and events before and after the incidents for suitable review and actions.
Of note is the professionalism and compassionate approach with which the University handled visits by relatives of the concerned parents, the joint parents platform of the institution and the enthusiastic leaders and members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Filled with conviction and truth, the Vice-Chancellor’s words resonated through the storm, piercing the heart of the gale. And when confronted with the ferocious demands of the NANS leadership and emissaries, his approach wielded an arcane magic that doused all tensions associated with the build-up to the national students body’s suspense-filled arrival on the University campus.
His address to all parties that visited the University, including representatives of state and Federal Government governments exemplified the resilience of human spirit, the power of faith, and the strength found in unity and compassion.
A recent letter from the National Universities Commission (NUC) which contained approval of more courses for ACU, accented the university’s focus and progression towards higher heights.
Also of note is the recent visit of South Korea instructors with several volunteers from Japan and other Asian countries to assist the university in Mind Education and further developments.
Furthermore, the pastoral visits from stakeholders and leaders of the Catholic Church in Oyo Diocese bolstered the conviction that ACU remains firmly on solid foundation.
The University also announced an unprecedented three-pronged certification policy and expansion of its Entrepreneurship initiative. The new certification policy will apart from offering normal academic certificate for course of study, also offer certificates to graduating students in Mind Education and Entrepreneurship.
All these are in addition to the exchange programme that the University entered into with Bowie State University in the United States, partnership with Centre for Bioethics and Research that birthed of an all expenses paid establishment of Research Integrity Unit in the school and assured access to research grant from the United States Government, huge investment in infrastructures and academics programmes, as well as addition of nursing programme with eye on medicine and surgery course.
Indeed, the Episcopal intervention and support for the management could not have been endorsed unanimously by the supreme chaplaincy of the Supra Diocesan Board of the West, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), which owns the University, without a thorough review and careful consideration of the issue and management’s responses. This ensured that support was not granted easily to an undeserving party.
And indeed too, the Board of Trustees, headed by outstanding lawyer, Chief Dr Wole Olanipekun; the University Governing Council, chaired by Dr Olutoyin Okeowo, would have spared no rod in dealing with anyone found negligent in their duties, regardless of their rank within the management hierarchy.
And who says no one was scolded during the series of meetings that were held behind steel doors in the aftermath of the storm? What is important, going forward, however is not the identity of who was scolded if there is any, but the speed at which the University’s sailing ship was steadied and readied for the ever challenging sea current in the face of growing competition in Nigeria’s private tertiary institution landscape, which has been starved of all forms of financial support by a Federal Government that has insisted that Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) is only for government owned institutions, even though the money is pooled by private companies in Nigeria for Nigerian students. This, of course, is a discourse for another day.
OLUFEMI ATOYEBI is the Public Relations Officer of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo.
