By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
The Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa Kwara State, has appointed an acting Rector for the institution. He is Dr. Olarongbe Afolabi.
His letter of appointment was given to him by the Registrar of the Polytechnic, Mr. Adetunji Oni, who doubles as the Secretary of the Council.
Oni had said in the appointment letter that sequel to the expiration of the tenure of the Rector, Dr Lateef Olatunji, on the 11th January, 2022, Afolabi’s appointment had been approved as the acting Rector.
The letter stated, “The Chairman, Governing Council, has approved your (Afolabi’s) appointment as the acting Rector, pending the appointment of the fifth substantive Rector, with effect from Wednesday, 12th January, 2022.
“By the appointment, you (Afolabi) are expected to handle both administrative and academic activities of the institution as the acting Chief Executive and directly responsible to the Governing Council.”
The process of selecting a substantive Rector for the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, had always been tough, as the plum job often attracts the interests of aspirants cutting across the academia, made up of the universities and polytechnics, both in and out of the institution’s catchment areas.
It was learnt that a large number of applicants had already shown interests, out of which 20 had been screened, waiting for the next round of the selection processes.
Meanwhile, the out-going Rector, Dr Olatunji, had handed over to the acting Rector, handing-over document to the acting Rector at a ceremony said to have been witnessed by the principal officers of the institution, including the Registrar, the Deputy Rector Academics, Bursar and the school’s Librarian.
Before Dr. Afolabi’s appointment, he was the Deputy Rector Administration, of the institution.
Born in Shao in Moro Locks Government Are of Kwara State in 1961, Dr. Afolabi attended Government Secondary School, Malete, for his secondary education and Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria for his first degree studies.
He also attended the University of Ilorin for his Masters’ degree and later went to the University of Utara, Malaysia, for his Doctor of Philosophy, PhD.
He has served as senior and chief lecturer respectively, Head of Departments, Dean and Chairmen of various committees and boards of the Federal Polytechnic before he was appointed the Deputy Rector, Administration and now, the acting Rector.
