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The inauguration ceremony of Lillian Imuetiyan Salami, professor of home economics and nutrition as the 10th vice-chancellor of the University of Benin came to an abrupt end Monday following an announcement that she had been invited by the state governor. No sooner a cultural dance by students of English and Literature studies finished their performance than the compere of the event, Benedicta Ehanire announced that goodwill remarks by other stakeholders would not be taken because the governor had just invited the brand new vice-chancellor to his office. Ehanire immediately called for closing prayers to the disappointment of guests while the vice-chancellor hurried away.
Consequent upon this development, the various unions in the University community namely the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU and the Students Union Government, SUG, were denied the opportunity of making their remarks.
Salami is the second female vice-chancellor of UNIBEN coming over 34 years after Grace Alele-Williams, a professor of mathematics. education who piloted the affairs of the university for seven years. Like Alele-Williams who made history as the first female vice-chancellor in Nigeria, (1985 – 1992) Salami also boasts of many firsts. She occupies the pride of place as the first female professor in the faculty of education (2005), the first elected female Dean of the faculty of education, (2014 – 2016) first alumnus of the university to emerge as vice-chancellor, as well as the first Benin woman to attain that height.
In her inauguration speech after she was formally presented to the University community by her predecessor, Osasere Faraday Orumwense, professor of mechanical engineering, Salami unveiled her vision of “placing the University of Benin as a world-class educational institution and innovation hub in Africa” and one that “should be second to none and recognized internationally as a producer of top-notch quality and progressive graduates obtainable through research and quality teaching”.
These, she hoped to achieve through her seven-point strategic plan which includes to increase funding and sustainable initiatives, to develop environmental and ethical orientation, ensure quality academic programme, and enhance staff and students’ welfare and security. Others are expansion/enhancement of physical structural development and management, increase in human capital development and management, and community impact initiative.
