Kunle Adelabu
The Governor of Lagos State and Moderator of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo – Olu, would any moment from now, announce the next substantive Rector for the only state-owned Polytechnic.
Following the final screening held for the aspirants for the plum job on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, which was reported by THE IMPACT, it was gathered that four names have been recommended by the institution’s Governing Council, led by Prof Rasheed Kola Ojikutu, to the Governor through the Office of the Special Adviser on Education (OSAE).
The Polytechnic is being administered by an acting Rector since the expiration of the administration of Mr Samuel Sogunro, the 10th Rector of the Polytechnic about four months ago.
Members of the screening panel were Vice Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Prof Sola Fajana, VC of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Prof Olarenwaju Fagbohun, Rector of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Mr. Obafemi Omokungbe, Rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Prof Kazeem Adeniyi, Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Dr. John Adekolawale, and former Rector of LASPOTECH, Mr. Ayo Iginla.
Also part of the exercise were all members of the Council Committee for Appointment and Promotion.
It was gathered that only two candidates – Dr Nurudeen Olaleye and Mr Olumide Metlelu, out of the 11 aspirants that appeared before the final screening panel, were found suitable for the appointment.
The names of the four aspirants recommended are Dr Nurudeen Olaleye, Head of Department, Biological Science in School of Pure and Applied Science, LASPOTECH, Olumide Olusola Metilelu, the current acting Rector LASPOTECH, Mr Mustapha A. Okunnu, Director, School of Part – Time Studies, LASPOTECH, (three are senior staff of LASPOTECH) and Prof Raheem Akewusola, the only external candidate from Lagos State University (LASU)
According to sources, Olaleye scored 86%, the highest mark in the screening exercise and was followed by Metilelu with 78% while Okunnu and Akewusola scored 68% apiece.
It was also further gathered, through a very reliable source that the OSAE has forwarded the names of the final aspirants to the Governor to pick the best that is suitable as substantive Rector for the Polytechnic.
Another source within the institution, however, informed our reporter that five names were actually submitted by the Governing Council.
The source said that Dr. Kolawole Godonu, a Chief Lecturer, Crop Production & Horticulture, LASPOTECH, is the fifth candidate on the list.
Meanwhile, any of the candidates from within the LASPOTECH system are most favoured to emerge as the next Rector as a large number of the staff of the institution is still favourably disposed to the choice of someone within the system to clinch the position despite the unpalatable experience they had under the immediate past Rector who was also part of the Polytechnic system.
Major stakeholders who have been calm for a while, THE IMPACT gathered, are now back in the trenches to garner support for their choice candidate by pulling political strings.
There is also interest from the outside institution regarding who becomes the next Rector of LASPOTECH.
As expected, petitions have started flying around as aspirants and their supporters are trying hard to outplay one another to clinch the much coveted position.
Candidates
Olumide Metilelu, the acting Rector, LASPOTECH
He is the current acting Rector of the institution. He served as Deputy Rector (Administration) during the Sogunro’s administration.
He is a native of Imota in Ikorodu Division, the host town of the LASPOTECH main campus, and the only candidate from the division on the final list.
Metilelu is a staff of the Department of Hospitality, School of Technology, LASPOTECH.
He is a former student of LASPOTECH and his candidacy, we gathered, is being favoured by the alumnus of the institution. Some see this as a very big advantage couple with his incumbency power.
He is also said to have the backing of the traditional rulers, elected representatives and other stakeholders in the Ikorodu division.Metilolu is no doubt the choice of the LASPOTECH’s host community.
Though, he is being seen as one of the arrowheads of Sogunro’s cabinet, he has, however,been described by many as an intelligent person who is well in tune with the LASPOTECH system.
He proved this in the last four months that he has been acting as the Rector with his achievements while he has also been seen as someone with clear understanding of what he wants to do.
He has also been seen by some as someone that can help the institution to sustain its academic standard and infrastructural development efforts and even improve on the current situation. To this set of people, Metilelu has listening ears and trusted to practice open – door policy if given the chance.
Metilelu is also seen by some as a candidate that would want to leave his mark on the institution being an indigene of Ikorodu and major stakeholders in the division available to call him to order.
His major albatross is that he is perceived as an ally of the immediate past controversial Rector, Mr Samuel Sogunro who many of the institution’s staff do not want to remember again.
Metilelu is also seen by those opposed to him to be too independent, while others are of the opinion that he is proud. To these people, he may end up doing only his own bidding and not what they want.
Nurudeen Olaleye, Chief Lecturer/Head of Department, LASPOTECH:
Dr Nurudeen Olaleye, Head of Department, Biological Science in School of Pure and Applied Science, appears to be the choice of the leaderships of the three staff unions in the institution.
He is also said to be enjoying the backing of the Minister of Interior and former Governor of State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
It was gathered that the amiable academic is also a strong political force in the Alimosho area of Lagos State.
His political influence and connections, THE IMPACT gathered, would help in the development of Polytechnic in many ways.
He is also said to be the choice of the Muslim community in the Polytechnic, being a strong pillar of the community.
We also gathered that he does not belong to any camp until recently. Thus, the jostling for the position has also made him align with a camp.
He is also believed to be a candidate of the Muslim community, which some staff members see as an influential group known for influencing decisions on the campus to the advantage of its members alone.
It is also rumoured that a former Rector, who is a leading Islamic figure on the campus, would have unrestrained influence on his administration which many are also opposed to.
Others Trailing Behind
Raheem Akewusola, Senior Lecturer, Lagos State University:
Prof. Raheem Akewusola is the only external candidate that made the final list after the screening.
He is an Associate Professor of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Science, Lagos State University, Ojo.
Akewusola, we gathered, hails from the Epe Division of Lagos State.
It was also gathered that he is a popular scholar on the LASU campus of the university.
Mustapha A. Okunnu, Director, School of Part – Time Studies, LASPOTECH:
Mr Mutapha Okunnu, the Director of School of Part – Time Studies, LASPOTECH, according to report, has equally proven that he is a major contender for the much – coveted position.
According to many staff members and students of the Polytechnic, Okunnu, who is said to hail from Lagos Island, is a nice and intelligent man and well loved.
Like others, Okunnu has his own followers within the LASPOTECH campus and has influence among staff and students of the institution.
Those opposed to him are of the view that the arrow heads of his campaign are those that ran the administration of the former Rector, Mr Samuel Sogunro, and made many enemies especially among the staff, in the process.
These arrow heads,according to report, are accused of creating most problems that are presently engulfing the Polytechnic. They were alleged to have wrongly accused innocent people of wrongdoing and also raised frivolous petitions.
His opponents fear that one of these arrow heads, who is a former Deputy Rector, may discreetly take over his administration and make him a mere figurehead. This, according to them, may spell continuation of the destabilizing patterns that the institution has been contending with.
Kolawole Godonu, Chief Lecturer, Crop Production & Horticulture, LASPOTECH:
Dr Kolawole Godonu, from Badagry Division, we gathered, is a friend of the governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, and also attended the same school with him.
Dr Godonu was a former Dean and enjoys the support of the larger part of the academic community (academic and non – academic). He is the Chaplain of the LASPOTECH Fellowship.
He was also rumoured to be the Governor’s choice being a classmate and President of the Governor’s set in secondary school.
Dr Godonu is described as a good administrator whose experience and managerial capacity are needed in turning around LASPOTECH.
Some powerful forces within the LASPOTECH system are also said to be pushing for Dr Godonu’s emergence as Rector because they see him as a candidate with the needed capacity to bring back unity and purposeful direction to the institution.
Major fears among staff is that he may deal with the staff that are loyal to Sogunro’s administration and may largely be controlled by another senior staff of the institution who, according to report, is leading the campaign for his emergence.
