Peter Power Resumed In Office As Ila College of Education Governing Council Chairman In A Grand Style, Kicked The Ground Running Immediately

Published by: Ogunsola Oluwasogo 

It was record birthing yesterday 31st July 2023 when the newly sworn in Chairman of the Governing Council of The Ila College of Education Elder Peter Adebayo Babalola thronged the citadel of learning in company of his mamoth entourage where he was received with warmth and regard by the management team of the Institution led by the Provost, Professor A Jimoh Atanda.

Earlier in the day, party stalwarts in Ila Local Government had waited at the boundary to receive the Governing Council Chairman.

The Chairman's first point of call was at the palace of the Orangun of Ila where Elder Peter Adebayo had gone to pay royal homage on the paramount Ruler. In his speech, his Majesty recalled his long standing relationship and friendship with the Board Chairman. Kabiesi had told the visiting Guests that he is particularly happy with the family of Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke because according to him, the family has been showing more than a passing interest on matters affecting the development of Ila and also his personal wellbeing in the area of management of his poor health until now that he is evidently hale and healthy. The monarch however decried the decaying infrastructures at the college, even as he pleaded that the economy of Ila rests significantly on how much the institution can be boosted. He jocularly mentioned that just as his health is back, the College within his jurisdiction will be up and running efficiently again. He thanked His Excellency The Governor of Osun State for the brilliant appointment of Elder Peter Adebayo Babalola, stating that Peter has a history of leaving imprints on the sand of time wherever he went.

The purpose of visitation was to receive royal blessings from Kabiesi to signal a positive ray of commencement of tenure of office.

Done with the Kabiesi at the palace, the Governing Council Head proceeded to the campus where he held useful meeting with top management cadres. In his welcome speech, the Institution's Provost, Professor Afolabi Atanda welcomed the Board's Chairman with open arms even as pledges the cooperation of all Stakeholders on the campus for an effective transformation under the new Chairman.

The College's Public Relation Officer had earlier introduced members of the management to the visiting Guests. They include Dr Nathaniel Olokede - The Deputy Provost, Mr Abiodun Adesoji Odetunde - Registrar, Dr Olarenwaju Oyedeji - The Institution's Bursar and Mr Salawu Iyanda - The Librarian amongst others.

Special Assistant to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Media Monitoring, Sir Akintunde Bello Sheriff ABS conducted the introduction business for the side of the Governing Council Head.

In his comprehensive address, the Governing Council Chairman hinted that the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke is not interested in any witch haunting approach as the college will now begin to move forward on a clean slate under him but warned that any act of infraction henceforth will be greatly repelled even as he harped on loyalty to the State Governor who is Visitor to the Institution.

Elder Peter Adebayo Babalola stated that by the briefings he has, the current intake of students in the institution put at paltry 1097 population is unacceptable and that some urgent measures must be taken to reverse that downward trend. In his speech, he said "this school in the past have produced greater numbers and we have evidence of successful graduates from here. The Provost is directed to immediately look into this and come up with workable steps that will improve enrollment rate.

In his further remarks, the Chairman stated that improving the enrollment rate will cause a surge in the economy wellbeing of the host community and as well as increase the income generation power of the citadel.

 The Governing Council Chairman assured that he will open discussions with big personalities so as to drive scholarship agenda for the sake of willing downtrodden in Ila and across Osun State and beyond. In an illustration, Elder Peter Adebayo Babalola stated that if a Student pays a fee if #27,000 per session as currently being witnessed, it will not require mopping more than #27 million to aggressively rewrite the history of the institution and there will be a swell in students' engagement for the improved rating of the College. He therefore hinted that as a Council, the Board will work with the management to reach out to the Alumni association and beacon on all those who passed through the college and have made landmark achievements in the society.

The Board Chairman in the course of the joint meeting had directed that the various Staff Unions in the Institution and as well as the Students' Union Government - SUG be allowed to join the meeting and he heard directly from them as part of his open door and transparency index agenda to which all the stakeholders were thankful.

The Provost in company of the management and top Staff of the institution conducted the Board Chairman round the College base on the desire of Elder Peter Adebayo Babalola. At the binder Library section, the Chairman saw on direct account how heavy printing equipments bought with public fund are lying fallowing and underutilized. He therefore directed that the Librarian must within the next 72 hours write a memo to the Provost explaining their predicament with a view to addressing same with dispatch. On the inspection voyage, the Board Chairman alighted at the college's convocation forcing the convoy to stop, and bemoaned the bushy condition of pitch. He therefore directed that the Director of Works Engineer Adedamola Sakariyau must swing into action within and ensure that the environment becomes safer and clean within two weeks. The Chairman admonished that Works department should as a matter of urgency look into the abandonment of the Mikano power set which was designed to supply electricity to the school's health centre and environs.

The inspection tour reached the health centre where the Matron Mrs Victoria Lawal conducted the Chairman around the facility. The Board Chairman used the occasion to check his blood pressure to communicate leadership by example as a value that should be inculcated by everyone else.

The entourage was at the Table Water Factory established by the College where evidence of production was observed. The Governing Council Chairman however hinted that the College's legal unit has to be drafted in to look at previous lease arrangement, while he hinted that there may be a need for reworking to ensure that the Institution was not shortchanged and for Partners to run at a profit too.

The Chairman advised the management to tap into the conversion of thick forest into a booming into a large business for the school as he decried the situation where unauthorized people from the community are cutting down trees indiscriminately thus causing the deforestation setback. The Chairman assured that he will seek support of the State Government for the institution in the area of road construction as most linkage roads within the campus are either undone or in terrible state. Elder Peter Adebayo Babalola was eventually led to his office and the council chamber where rehabilitation effort considered a necessity, within the shortest time possible.

On the entourage of the Governing Council Chairman were a former Commissioner in the State and One time Governing Council Chairman of the same Board - Honourable Akin Titiloye, The PDP Leader in Ila Local Government Chief Kolapo Lawal, PDP Chairman for Ila Local Government - Mr Ganiyu Olaitan, The State's Deputy Women Leader Sheri Ajide, Mr Banji Ayandiran - Former PDP Secretary for Ila Local Government, The Women Leader of PDP in Ila Local Government, Mr Luke Iyadunni, Dr Ibiyemi amongst other party faithfuls.

Report by the Media Office of the Governing Council Chairman.