The Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilesa, Taiwo Asaolu, has raised concerns over the increasing challenges confronting university administrators in Nigeria, including land grabbing and illegal occupation of university property.
Asaolu disclosed that several vice-chancellors across Nigerian universities are under intense pressure due to competing interests from different stakeholders, making institutional management more complex.
The accounting professor made this known while delivering a lecture at the Second Bursary and Internal Audit Annual Lecture of Elizade University in Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, on Wednesday. The lecture was titled “Ethics under pressure: Managing financial risk and integrity in university governance.”
According to Asaolu, leading a university is far from easy, noting that some former vice-chancellors in Nigeria had even been sentenced to prison terms due to the way certain issues were handled during their tenures.
Using his institution as an example, he explained that the university has been battling several problems, including illegal occupants living on campus and individuals attempting to reclaim land previously acquired by the institution.
“As I speak, there are illegal residents on our campus rearing goats and chickens. We have taken the Osun Rangers to the area to drive them away, yet they are still there,” he said.
He added that some individuals whose families had earlier collected compensation for the land are now attempting to take it back, with some even starting construction projects on the property.
“Some of them claim they were not aware their parents had accepted compensation. They now want the land returned and have even started building on it. Some have gone as far as taking the university to court,” Asaolu said.
The vice-chancellor also pointed out that the institution must constantly engage with traditional rulers and other community stakeholders in Ijesa land because the university is seen as belonging to the community.
He explained that decisions regarding recruitment, admission and other administrative matters often involve balancing the expectations of different groups, including students, parents, staff members and community leaders.
Asaolu stressed that managing these diverse and sometimes conflicting interests makes university administration particularly challenging, especially for relatively new institutions like the University of Ilesa.
To strengthen accountability in universities, he advised governing councils to establish independent audit and risk committees that include external professionals to ensure effective oversight of financial systems.
He also recommended the adoption of comprehensive whistleblowing policies and regular ethical training to help detect fraud early and promote a culture of transparency and accountability in university management.
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure, Adenike Oladiji, who chaired the event, commended the lecturer and described the topic as timely given the pressures facing university administrators.
She urged stakeholders to adhere strictly to legal frameworks in addressing the challenges confronting universities and emphasised the need for continuous awareness within university communities.
Earlier, the Bursar of Elizade University, Ajeigbe Samuel, noted that the lecture topic was particularly relevant at a time when financial, social and political pressures are affecting professionalism in the management of university finances and other institutions.
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