We mould students to be Global Citizens – Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Professor Adebiyi Daramola.
FUTA – newly sworn in leaders of the Students Union
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Professor Adebiyi Daramola has said that his administration will not relent in moulding characters of students for the future and position them to take their places as global citizens. He stated this while declaring open a special retreat organized for the newly sworn in leaders of the Students Union of the institution. The 3-day retreat recently held at the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, Ikogosi, Ekiti State which is an annual event was to give proper leadership orientation to the new students’ leaders.
Addressing them, Daramola who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Professor Tunde Arayela, said “This retreat is organized by the University Management with the conviction that no amount is too much to invest on proper character moulding and development of students as future leaders. In this regard, it should be noted that the vision informing the decision to institute this programme is not one meant to brainwash you as leaders of students but to bring out your great potentials such that you would not just perform well in office, but become great leaders of tomorrow.”
Daramola noted that lessons learnt from the previous retreats have had tremendous impact on the administration of FUTA Students Union, hoping that the tradition and other leadership training programmes will give students of the institution high level of responsiveness and responsibility to consistently maintain the existing culture of synergetic relationship between the Union and the administration.
Admonishing the leaders, Professor Daramola said “You should be concerned with issues of academic breakthroughs, academic quality assurance, cult-free environment, peaceful coexistence and financial prudence. I urge you to imbibe the attribute of dynamic academic culture that promotes dialogue, consultation and positive initiatives and not violence or confrontation.”
He further assured them of his administration’s commitment to all-time open door policy and participatory decision making and also urged them to foster value-adding and impactful leadership on the students.
Corroborating the Vice-Chancellor, the Dean of Students, Dr. Kayode Alese advised the students’ leaders to be democratic and patriotic saying the University will ensure that they are transformed into resourceful leaders with tools to get their fellow students to follow them and do what is right. Alese further called on them to put up impactful students oriented programmes so as to justify the confidence reposed in them by their colleagues and the University authority. “You must initiate policies and programmes that will make your tenure productive and memorable. You must also imbibe integrity, good communication, knowledge, respect for others, service, good vision and responsibility which are the ingredients of successful leadership” he said. Dr. Alese also warned them against violence and unwholesome tendencies that can cast aspersions on their integrity, urging them to allow discipline and responsible leadership be their watchword.
In a paper presented and titled “University Student/Management Relationship: The Ideal Communication Pattern for Sustainable Campus Stability”, a former Dean of Students’ and Director of Academic Planning Unit, Professor Oyedapo Fagbenro said “Cordial relationships motivates good behavior. Students with good relationship with management contribute to peace, progress and stability of the institution. Anything contrary to this can destroy the University Community.”
Admonishing the Students leaders he said “Be alert to your duties and responsibilities. Set your goals and priorities right. Present yourselves as a virile union. Consult widely from among other stakeholders in the academic community in order to avoid commotion, misunderstanding, misinterpretation and hostility.
He also warned them against confrontation, aggression, intimidation, violence, civil disobedience, crime and general misconduct because such can mar their future and rob them of the leadership potentials in them.
