Bisi Akande, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at the University of Ibadan, has declared his intention to donate all allowances earned from his role to establish scholarships for deserving science students at the university.
In a memorandum directed to Ganiyu Oke Saliu, the Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Council, Akande conveyed his belief that his appointment represents a national call to service, and he has no plans to receive any financial compensation for his position.
Instead, he has chosen to allocate any payments he receives for attending meetings of the Governing Council and its committees solely for the benefit of students pursuing Science courses at the university, particularly those studying Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Akande detailed his plan to convert these allowances into an endowment or annual scholarship fund, which would cover essential expenses like accommodation and other officially sanctioned fees.
He proposed that the Dean of Students’ Affairs or the academic officer of the institution should oversee the coordination of selecting eligible science students who will benefit from this initiative.
Should the anticipated allowances be discontinued, Akande stated that he has established the Adebisi Akande Foundation to ensure that the student beneficiaries are not left in a difficult situation.
He further explained that the Foundation was created for similar reasons, to help cover any shortfalls that may arise from commitments associated with the scholarships.
In the memorandum, he expressed, “I view my appointment as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council for the University of Ibadan as a national call to service, for which I do not intend to receive any remuneration.”
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“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.”
