Former acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande has offered deserving undergraduate students of the University of Ibadan the beneficiaries of his anticipated allowances as the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of the Governing Council of the institution.
The ruling party’s chieftain made the offer in a Memorandum to the Registrar/Secretary of the UI Governing Council, Mr Ganiyu Oke Saliu, dated 21 August, 2024, and titled “Utilisation Of Allowances Of The Pro-Chancellor”.
He said such allowances should be utilised in form of a kind of endowment for something like annual scholarships or any other form of awards.
Such an endowment, Akande stated, should be used to cover the cost of accommodation and other officially approved fees charged by the University for deserving science students.
He listed the would-be beneficiaries to only include UI undergraduate students who are offering science courses in Mathematics Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
The former Osun State governor, further stated that he did not intended to earn any remuneration as he saw his appointment as a national call to service.
He suggested that the Dean of Students’ Affairs or the academic officer of the institution should be involved in coordinating the selection of eligible science students to benefit from the gesture.
In the event that such anticipated allowances were terminated, Akande said he had incorporated the Adebisi Akande Foundation to prevent the student beneficiaries from becoming stranded.
He added that the Foundation was incorporated for similar purposes to augment any shortfall arising from any such commitments incurred from the awards.
“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.
“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 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,” Akande stated.