According to a presentation by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, during the 2023 policy meeting, the top 10 institutions were recognised due to the attraction of high number of applicants during the 2023 UTME application period.

In the list, the University of Ilorin was first, followed by the University of Lagos in second place, Lagos State University in third place,Federal University, Oye-Ekiti in fourth place.

Others in the top 10 are University of Benin, University of Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Nigerian Defence Academy and the University of Ibadan.

Alfanla, who is a Deputy Registrar and current Secretary of the institution’s Postgraduate School, will take over from the current Registrar, Dr Fola Olowoleni, when her tenure ends in April.

A statement made available to newsmen in Ilorin on Saturday by the institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, disclosed that the appointment was one of the highlights of the 183rd meeting of the Council held last Thursday, March 23, 2023 and presided over by its Acting Chairman, Professor Saburi A. Adesanya.

The development followed the rigorous consideration of the reports of the Selection Committee earlier constituted by the Council, which evaluated the eligibility of the candidates shortlisted for the interview to fill the soon-to-be-vacant position.

With the appointment, Mr Alfanla is scheduled to become the seventh Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Council of the University and the third occupant of the office who passed through the ranks in the administrative cadre of the University before attaining the pinnacle of his career at the same institution.

An indigene of Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, Mr Alfanla was born on August 28, 1970 in the city of Ilorin.

“He attended the famous Ansarul Islam Primary School, Ilorin, where he received his primary education certificate. He was also educated at the Omupo Grammar School, Omupo, from where he earned his West African School Certificate in 1988.

In 1990, the Registrar-designate proceeded to the Bayero University, Kano, for his Bachelor of Arts (Combined Honours) degree in English/Mass Communication, which he earned in 1995. Mr Alfanla also attended the University of Ilorin between 2006 and 2010 for his Bachelor’s degree in Common Law. He followed his LL.B. up with his attendance of the Nigerian Law School, Abuja at the end of which he was called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2012. He, again, in 2015, enrolled for his Master’s degree in law and completed the programme in 2016.

“After offering his mandatory national youth service (NYSC) programme at Girls Commercial School, Nanka, Anambra State from 1995 to 1996, the Registrar-designate joined the services of the University of Ilorin as an Administrative Assistant during the tenure of the 6th Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Shuaibu Oba AbdulRaheem in 1998. He was promoted to the rank of Administrative Officer in 2001. He became an Assistant Registrar in 2005.

“Following his consistent hard work and loyalty to the University, Alfanla was elevated to the rank of Senior Assistant Registrar in 2009. He became a Principal Assistant Registrar in 2013. This outstanding university administrator was eventually promoted to the rank of Deputy Registrar in 2016.

“In the last 25 years of his services to be nation’s most sought-after University, Mr Alfanla has served in various capacities and on several committees either as the Chairman or Secretary.

“Among the several responsibilities he was saddled with was the University’s Admission Officer, which he competently offered under two different administrations headed by Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede and Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali between 2009 and 2013. He also served as the Deputy Registrar, Academic Support Services.

“A thoroughbred administrator and veteran unionist, the Registrar-designate initially served as Secretary and later as the Chairman of the University of Ilorin’s Chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SAANU) from 2004 to 2007 and between 2007 to 2015, respectively. He was also the National Treasurer of the Association between 2015 and 2016.

“Alfanla, who has attended many conferences, seminars and symposiums, is also a member of many professional bodies including the Association of Nigerian Universities Professional Administrators (ANUPA), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), among others. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administrators of Nigeria (ICAN).

Despite his tight schedules, Mr Alfanla found time to serve as the Secretary, Ilorin Emirate Staff Association, University of Ilorin. He was also at a time the Secretary, University of Ilorin Muslim Community as he was the Imam, Senior Staff Quarters’ Mosque, Main Campus, Ilorin, between 2009 and 2021.

“Until his new appointment, Mr Alfanla has been a member of the University’s Governing Council, representing the University Congregation.

“Alfanla is happily married and blessed with children,” the statement added.

Arise said in his inaugural lecture that the consumption of indigenous fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts which are rich in antioxidants, short peptides and micronutrients.

Speaking on the theme, “Modulating The Mediators Of Life Processes: The Strategic Place Of Enzymes in Health And Wellness” while delivering the 228th inaugural lecture at the university, Arise warned against the practice of concurrent intake of drugs such as antibiotics with alcohol.

He explained that the result of research investigation on the effects of co-administration of antibiotics widely used to cure negative infections and ethanol on some biochemical parameters of a rat kidney may be exerting some toxicity on the kidney.

According to him, the result revealed a significant reduction in the kidney lactate dehydrogenase activity as well as elevated serum urea, total protein and cholesterol levels.

“We concluded that concurrent intake of alcohol with antibiotics is toxic to the kidney and the body as a whole. These findings also suggest that the prolong administration of invermectin and albendazole may be toxic to the liver, kidney and brain cells.

The general public is hereby advised against the practice of concurrent intake of drugs such as antibiotics with alcohol, and the use of galena (tiro) as well as exposure of skin to used lubricating oil because of the danger or harm inherent in the practice,” he said.

He said that another result of their investigation provided evidence that vitamin E positively modulated the negative effects of the combined administration of invermectin and albendazole in rats.

He said, “our common indigenous fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts are very rich in antioxidants, short peptides and micronutrients.

The don disclosed that his team had also investigated some medicinal plants commonly used for the management of some health conditions in order to provide a baseline safety data about their ability to either positively or negatively modulate metabolic life process.

Arise said, “Biochemistry is the pivot of all life sciences. The equipment for teaching, training and research are capital intensive.

“Thus the need for adequate funding and provision of adequate equipment for laboratories and classrooms to boost education.

The don, however, urged industries and companies in the pharmaceutical, food, and drinks to fund research as part of their corporate social responsibility.

He said that government agencies such as NAFDAC, SON, among others should do more in their regulatory efforts to subject new products to standard toxicological evaluation procedures.

He, however, clarified that students and staff would not be disenfranchised as the university had designed a programme “where students can attend virtual classes and vote wherever they are.”

“We won’t suspend our lecturing for voting, Unilorin is digitised,” he added.

The VC also said the management of the university had designed the school’s academic programmes to ensure that all lost academic calendars to the 8 months strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities are recovered latest by October while a new academic session begins in August 2023

Egbewole made this known while fielding questions from journalists during his maiden media parley on Wednesday.

He said in the last 100 days of his assumption as vice-chancellor, the university under his regime had attracted N500 TETFund grants for hostel accommodation for its students, another N400 million for broadband from the ministry of communication and N200 million grant for ICT.

Similarly, the VC said some staff of the school have also attracted N100 million grants through their research works for the university adding that the university “has patented 18- 20 products of its research works.”

Egbewole also announced plans by the university under his administration to complete its long-initiated Tanke–UNILORIN rail transportation system to ease the transport hiccups being faced by the students.

He stressed that the university “is engaging the Embassy of China” to handle the project which according to him had been initiated about 10- 15 years ago.

In addition, the VC said the university under his administration was planning an “electric bus transportation system at the micro level” to ensure students have a smooth ride

A statement released to the media on Monday by the university’s Director of Corporate Affairs,  Kunle Akogun, said that the virtual classes would run simultaneously with physical classes.

The statement pointed out that “about 500 user accounts of 300 capacity zoom licences have been assigned to Faculties and Departments for effective virtual delivery of lectures.”

It added, “We have also developed virtual class schedules  for courses with class sizes of about 1,000, 3,000, and 5,000 students using the large capacity zoom licences.”

It pointed out that “physical delivery of lectures/practical sessions in classrooms/laboratories is very important and should be consciously sustained.”

It would be recalled that in the wake of the transportation challenges facing the students and staff of the university, the management rolled out several measures to mitigate the effect of the unfortunate situation on the students in particular.

These included the directive to the Timetable and Room Usages Committee to adjust lecture timetable to make it more flexible.

The management also renewed the university’s zoom licences to activate the virtual lecture option, the statement said.

Recall that the university, last week, said that it would begin virtual lectures for the students in the institution to assuage the transportation problem being faced by the students and staff as a result of the bad road and construction work ongoing along the main road leading to the university from the town.

Olajide’s death had sparked protests by many civil society organizations across the country who demanded justice. She was found with injuries all over her body at her Tanke residence, University road, Ilorin after allegedly being gagged and raped.

It was further learnt that the suspects are helping the service with the investigation.  Kwara State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mumini Jimoh (SAN) has also confirmed that some suspects had been arrested over the issue and will be arraigned before Justice I.A. Jusuf on Wednesday, June 30.

Director of Corporate Affairs of the University of Ilorin  Mr. Kunle Akogun, confirmed his death to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

According to Akogun, Prof. Akinwale died on Saturday, September 13, 2020 at age 74.

Akinwale began his acting career in the 1970s featuring in television and drama productions.

He won the Best Indigenous actor award at the 4th Africa Movie Academy Awards.

Born in Ibadan, he attended Methodist High School and the University of Ibadan before beginning academic work as a lecturer at the Polytechnic Ibadan.

He was the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Culture of the University of Ilorin, and also the Chairman of Oyo State Council for Arts and Culture.

Akinwale also starred in several cultural festivals across Nigeria, a versatile producer, academician, and play writer.

He produced a ‘Sango’ in 1997, Ladepo Omo Adanwo in 2005, and Iranse Ajein 2007.

He was the pioneer board Chairman of UnilorinFM.

Abdulkareem, while cautioning the public in a press briefing on Monday in Ilorin, noted that the university is yet to release any admission.

NAN reported that the Vice-Chancellor advised candidates and their parents to disregard the purported lists on social media, saying that they were the handiwork of fraudsters.

He also cautioned that anyone caught giving fake admission would face the full wrath of the law as it is a criminal offence, adding that on no account should anybody pay anyone to get admitted into the school.

The VC said the institution had continued to wax strong since the coming of his administration in 2017.