ExemplaryLEADER MeetTheFirstCitizenofUniversityofLagos

Prof.
Rahman
Bello, Vice
Chancellor
of
UNILAG

There is always a great and top ranked person governing the administration of a standardinstitution.Recently,theHUSHCREWhadanexclusiveinterviewwiththe “number one” of the University of First choice (University of Lagos), The ViceChancellor,ProfessorRahmanBellotogiveussomeinsightandinformationabout hispersonalityand theUniversityas a whole whichis not opento the studentsof Unilag.Enjoy economic problems faced in the country, UNILAG could no longer keep up facility wise and in other aspects.The fall in the exchange rate of the dollar and pound to the Naira affected the influx of foreign lecturers into the country This greatly affected the diversity found in the school.Asides these issues UNILAG is ranked among the best schools in the world, we are of course still working to improve and become even better

HUSH:CANYOUTELLUSALITTLEBITABOUTYOURSELFSIR?

V.C: I am Professor Rahman Bello, the current vice chancellor of the UniversityofLagos,aProfessorofChemicalEngineering.

HUSH: SINCE YOU ASSUMED THE POSITION OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR, HOWCHALLENGING HAS IT BEENANDWHATARE SOMEOFTHEDIFFICULTIESYOUHAVEFACEDSOFAR?

V.C: It has been as challenging as expected; there are daily issues that must be resolved. Running an institution this size can be compared to running a small city The population of students aloneisover50,000whilestaffisabout6,000.Issuesoffunding, repairs and maintenance of existing facilities are also issues thatdemandattention.

HUSH:CANWEGETTOKNOWALITTLEBITABOUTYOUR EDUCATIONALHISTORY?

V.C: I obtained my first degree from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1974; I had my postgraduateeducationattheuniversityofWaterlooOntarioCanadawhereIhadmy mastersinappliedsciencein1977.IgotmyPhDinchemicalengineeringfromthesame schoolin1981.Ongettingtothecountry,IservedandcompletedmyNYSCinMaidugri inthenowBornostate.

HUSH:ASTHEVCOFTHE UNIVERSITYOF LAGOS, HOWWOULDYOU RATE UNILAG INCOMPARISONWITHOTHER SCHOOLS?

V.C: UNILAG is a first class university by all standards, when it was set up initially, it was at par with universities in the UK. Unfortunately, due to long years of social and must lead toward that direction. Due to challenges we are currently facing with the availability of land, most of the buildings we intend to construct will be high rise facilities, the first of which will be the library which will be 10 floors, it will be situated at the student's affairs office and construction should start by year ending.We also plan on constructing high rise buildings for school of post graduate studies, Distance Learning Institute, college of education and the faculty of Law Academically, we're moving; our target is to be the best inAfrica within the next 4 to 5 years. Also, we plan on completing theAmphi-theatre. Some other plans include developing that entire area and transforming it into a student centre, this centre will have a cinema, relaxation spot, cafeteria and other facilities aimed at meeting students' needs.

HUSH:WHERE DOYOU SEE UNIVERSITYOF LAGOS INTHE NEXT 5YEARS?

V.C:We have a strategic 25 year plan, we're currently within the first 5 years of it, and we have even gone further than what we laid out for those first 5 years.We want to push UNILAG to become a proper cosmopolitan university, all our actions

HUSH:WHILE IN SCHOOL, HOWWEREYOUABLETO BALANCEOUTYOUR SOCIAL LIFEWITHYOURACADEMIC RESPONSIBILITIES?

V.C: To be a well adjusted student, you must let the university pass through you as you pass through the university; this was our slogan and what we lived by You must acquire the university culture, through learning from others and socializing.Your ability to give both your academic and social life their required attention is what makes you as a student. Involving yourself in school activities greatly improves you not just as a student but as a person. It gives you the opportunity to learn leadership and interpersonal skills early You must be conscious of the importance of both sides and know where and when to draw the line so that one will not suffer for the other

ON A LIGHTER NOTESIR,WEWERE HOPINGYOUCOULD TELLUS HOWYOU METYOURWIFE.

Well we come from the same town, and we lived in the same environment in Abeokuta where we met. At the time, she was in secondary school and I had already graduated from secondary school. i saw her and she looked like someone I wanted to get closer to, it started slowly and it became something later on.

HUSH:WHATAREYOUR HOBBIES?

V.C: I'm a family person. I enjoy playing with my grandchildren. I also enjoy reading, watchingTV and getting acquainted with what is happening in the country and beyond.Traveling and watching movies once in a while are also activities I enjoy when I have the time.

HUSH: DOYOU HAVEA PIECEOF ADVICETOTHE STUDENT SIR?

V.C: Hmm, I would advise the students of the great institution to face what they really came for in this great institution. Never get carried away with anything contrary to your academics, balance your social life with your academics and trust me, you will continue to do exploits. Thank you.