Students rejoice as Ogunbodede is named new OAU VC

There was jubilation at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, on Monday as the Governing Council of the institution announced Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede as the 11th Vice Chancellor of the university.

The Chairman, Governing Council, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, made the announcement at a press conference attended by other members of the university and the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Anthony Elujoba.

Hundreds of workers of the university, who had laid siege to the venue of the press conference in anticipation of the announcement.

According to Ogunbodede, the process of selecting the new VC was transparent and followed due process.

He stated that a search committee was raised and 22 people applied for the job which he said was advertised.

According to him, one of the applicants does not have the required criteria and was dropped.

He said, “The search for the new Vice Chancellor was transparent. We received about 18 applications and a committee was set up to search for candidates outside those who applied on their own and four more candidates applied,  making the number 22.

“The candidates were subjected to screening and they were interviewed for three days. I am happy to announce to you that the new Vice Chancellor is Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede.”

Ogunbiyi thereafter put a call through to the new VC, who eventually turned up at the venue amidst jubilation from the workers.