Professor Tola Badejo is the Vice Chancellor of the Eastern Palm University, Ogboko in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State. An easy going convivial technocrat whose mien gives an indication of a man who takes his day as it comes.
In this short interview, the University Don lets readers into some facts that have been reported wrongly by some newspapers, since the Eastern Palm University crisis started.
Quest: Sir tell us How long were you VC of Eastern Palm University.
Prof Badejo: Less than a year. I resumed duty in July, 2020.
Quest: Before now, tell us where you did work.
Prof. Badejo: I started my career in the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1981. I became a Professor in 1998. I was elected the Dean of my Faculty (Science) in 2003, an administrative position I held for 4 years. After this, I was appointed a Research Advisor by Shell Petroleum Corporation in Port Harcourt in October 2007. Thereafter, I was appointed the VC of Wesley University in Ondo by Methodist Church Nigeria in 2008, a position I held till 2015.
Quest: The Crisis presently rocking the Institution, What in your opinion is responsible for it.
Prof Badejo: Dispute over the ownership of the institution.
Quest: The Imo state government has been coming into the institution to replace sign boards up until the replacement of the front entrance signboard signaling the name change, How has these actions affected the psychology of students on campus.
Prof Badejo: Everybody is worried about this development. Not only the students, the staff too. There is however this understanding by all that it is all about the dispute on the ownership of the institution.
Quest: Sir how do you react to insinuations from some quarters that the Institution before now had had its fair share of management crisis due to allegations that the Pro Chancellor, Prof. Nonye-Rajis Okpara has been filling positions with people with questionable credentials. This some say led to the quiet move of the former VC, Prof. Linus Osuagwu.
Prof. Badejo: I am not aware of these allegations. If true, it happened long before I became the VC. There was an acting VC in between me and the first VC. This information is not in the hand-over notes at my disposal. At present, there is no management crisis. I am in good terms with the current Pro-Chancellor.
Quest: Sir, suspending academic activities when students are writing their final examinations, won’t this affect the overall academic calendar of the institution.
Prof Badejo: This is not true. We have just commenced the 2020/2021 session.
