UI Pro-chancellor: My allowances are for scholarship fund, says Bisi Akande

• Chief Akande outlined his vision for the allowances to be transformed into an endowment or annual scholarship fund, covering essential costs such as accommodation and other officially approved fees.
• He has requested the involvement of the Dean of Student Affairs or any other suitable University Academic officer in the selection process to ensure that the scholarships reach the most deserving candidates.

Bisi Akande, pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council at the University of Ibadan, has said that  he will donate his allowances to support science scholarships for the institution’s deserving students.

This is contained in a memorandum addressed to Ganiyu Oke Saliu, registrar and secretary to the governing council.

Akande said his appointment is a “national service”, prompting him to forgo remuneration and serve selflessly.

The former governor of Osun said his goal is to channel the allowances into a scholarship fund, covering students’ essential expenses like accommodation and approved fees.

He added the allowances should be used “solely to benefit deserving undergraduate students studying Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology” at the university.

”I consider my appointment as the Pro-Chancellor and as the Chairman of Council for the University of Ibadan as a national call to service from which I do not intend to earn any remuneration,” the memorandum reads.

“However, if the position is entitled to any allowances, for example for attending meetings of the Governing Council and its committees in accordance with the prior approvals of the Federal Government of Nigeria, you will be kind enough to assist me to apply any payments which may be due to me from such allowances solely for the benefits of some deserving undergraduate students of this University who are offering Science courses, namely in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology only.

“I expect the benefit to be in the form of a kind of endowment for something like annual scholarships or any other form of awards so as to cover the cost of accommodation and other officially approved fees charged by the University for such deserving science students.

“I suggest that the Dean of Student Affairs office or any such University Academic officer shall be involved in coordinating the selection of such eligible science students.

“In the possible event that any such anticipated allowances to me from this University appointment become terminated by whatever circumstances, to prevent any student beneficiaries of this endowment arrangement from becoming stranded, there is an already incorporated Adebisi Akande Foundation for similar purposes which would augment any shortfall arising from any such commitments incurred from the awards.

“This memo is being copied to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the said Adebisi Akande Foundation to enable him liaise with you for an efficient and smooth implementation of this directive.”