After a five-year stint as the 10th Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, Professor Sulyman Abdulkareem announced his resignation on Saturday. Egbewole has since taken over as UNILORIN’s Vice Chancellor, and Abdulkareem has stepped down.
The 47-year-old University’s 11th Vice Chancellor, Professor Wahab Egbewole, SAN, took over on Monday after Abdulkareem’s five-year term as vice chancellor expired on Saturday.
The Federal Government founded the University of Ilorin in 1975.
Students, academics, and traditional leaders were among the members of the university community who praised the qualities of the departing vice chancellor, describing him as a clever, intellectual, hard-working Nigerian who is honest and duty-bound.
At the management-organized farewell ceremony, a documentary book about the term and accomplishments of the departing Vice-Chancellor was unveiled, with the working title “Prof Abdulkareem: Footprints of a Giant” (VC UNILORIN 2017–2022).
Although Abdulkareem attended Government Secondary School, Ilorin, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Adeoti, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers and is a former student, noted that despite the fact that “the small child showed the attributes of a “Lagos lad,” he was polite to his seniors.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academics, Professor Bolaji Sule, described the Vice Chancellor as “a guy of focus and has a thought of his own.”
From his time in secondary school on, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Premium Times, hailed Abdulkareem as a clever and adaptable individual in his book review.
He asserted that the Vice-Chancellor is well known for his constancy, which he claimed to be a fundamental aspect of his personality.
He vowed to defend those in need and detested injustice and cheating.
Olorunyomi added that Abdulkareem is modern and devoted to his faith, but that he has some doubts about certain things in the west.
The book’s author, Kunle Akogun, Director of Corporate Affairs at UNILORIN, noted that it meticulously details Abdulkareem’s accomplishments over the course of his five-year term.
He claims that it also lists the various honors and accolades that the University under his supervision received from the professor of chemical engineering, who has won numerous awards.
According to Akogun, the book project known as the UNILORIN leadership series started in 2017 with the publication of the first book, which covered Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali’s time as the 9th Vice Chancellor.
He claimed that the Director of the Corporate Affairs Unit had written the book, which also demonstrated Abdulkareem’s exceptional leadership abilities throughout his career and in the administration of the University since he was appointed the institution’s Vice-Chancellor.
Prof. Abdulkareem has been a knowledgeable scholar who has made significant contributions to the university’s overall growth, the speaker stated.
Akogun thanked Abdulkareem on finishing his term successfully and said the book was created in his honor.
“This book, which the Directorate of Corporate Affairs created as a farewell gift for the departing Vice-Chancellor, will be a valued and priceless source of information.
“In particular, for individuals who are interested in getting a bird’s eye view of the University of Ilorin’s comprehensive story, with special reference to its remarkable strides between 2017 and 2022.
“So many people, each in their own unique ways, have contributed to the success of this book endeavor. And to each of them, I owe a tremendous deal, he said.
