Osun State University has continued to grow in leaps and bounds with the recent inauguration of seven new departments by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Labode Popoola in the Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences of the university.
The newly inaugurated departments are the Department of Zoology, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Department of Microbiology, Department of Physics, Department of Plant Biology and the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

In their respective welcome remarks at the inauguration ceremony held on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 at the College of Science Engineering and Technology’s Board Room in the Main Campus, Osogbo, the Provost of the College, Professor Samson Akinola and the Dean, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Professor Isreal Oyewole thanked the Vice-Chancellor for giving the Faculty all necessary support to attain its current growth status.
They however urged the management not to rest on its oars in continuously giving support to the Faculty to enable it surmount various challenges being faced in the Faculty.

Speaking at the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Labode Popoola who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Research, Innovation and Partnership (ARIP), Professor Clement Adebooye commended the Faculty for doing a good job even as he expressed commitment of its administration to upholding of academic excellence in the university.

The Vice-Chancellor maintained that the University is particularly concerned with the welfare of the departments with focus of provision of additional resources to make them function well. He thanked the College for their efforts in the last accreditation exercise the outcome of which has been very positive in spite of the industrial action embarked upon by the non-teaching unions.
Professor Popoola expressed satisfaction on the performance of the staff in the College particularly in the area of exam processing, describing them as proactive. He said their commitment and diligence in the exam processing contributed to the success recorded in the last NYSC mobilization exercise in the university.

“Curricula are changing every day all over the world. Review of curricula is necessary to accommodate new development in the global market. Poor funding should no longer be an excuse. Money will never be enough; discipline matters. Management has continued to be prudent with the University’s meager resources while we prioritize payment of salaries as and when due,” he stated.
He hinted that the University still had some unspent TETFund money to the tune of sixty million naira tasking the teaching staff in the College to come up with research proposals that can stand the test of time. He advised the younger academics with good research ideas to work with senior professors to enable them come up with meaningful research idea.

The occasion was graced by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (ARIP), Professor O. C. Adebooye; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration & Development), Professor J. O. Olaitan;, Registrar, Mr. G. A. A. Shittu; Bursar, Mr. Rotimi Feruke; Provost, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Professor Samson Akinola; Dean, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Professor Isreal Oyewole; Director of Research and Linkages, Professor Amos Popoola, Deputy Director, Directorate of Intercampus and Public Affairs, Dr. Obiseye Obiyemi, the Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Jibola Oyekunle; the Faculty Officer, FBAS, Mr. Adebisi among other prominent staff in the College.

The Global Fund, Geneva and Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Nigeria have appointed Dr. M. A. Adeleke of the Department of Zoology, Osun State University as the Principal Investigator for the studies on malaria vectors surveillance sentinel sites in Osun State, Nigeria.

The project will be hosted by Osun State University, Osogbo. Other members of the team include Dr. K.A Fasasi and Dr. M.A Rufai from the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, UNIOSUN.
The Head of Integrated Vector Management, FMoH, Abuja, Mr Oyale Okoko and Dr. Petrus Inyama from Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI/USAID) disclosed this on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 during a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University in Osogbo.

The delegation stated that malaria is the most deadly tropical disease in the world responsible for millions of deaths annually. The disease is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. The team further gave insight on changing in vector biology, behaviour and resistance to common insecticides; hence the need for in-depth studies to unravel the mechanisms driving the changes most especially in Anopheles gambiae complex and Anopheles funestus that are major vectors of malaria in Africa.
The Global fund will provide logistic and equipment to Osun State University for successful implementation of the project and capacity building of the staff in the University.

In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Labode Popoola welcomed the team and thanked Global Fund and FMoH for selecting Osun State University to host the project. He expressed confidence in the ability of the Principal Investigator and his team to deliver quality results that will inform policies in malaria elimination agenda in Osun State and Nigeria in general.
In his words: “Malaria is a common enemy and we must all join hands together to eliminate it. One of our cardinal focuses as a University is to conduct cutting edge studies that will have direct impact on the well-being and socio-economic development of our immediate environment and global community. On behalf of the Management of the University, rest assured of our total support towards successful execution of the project.”

The meeting was attended by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Labode Popoola, Prof. Amos Popoola (Director of Research and Linkages), Dr. O.O Abiona (Ag. Dean, Students Affairs), Dr M.A Adeleke (Ag. Director of Academic Planning and Principal Investigator of the project), Dr. K.A Fasasi (Ag. Head of Department of Zoology), Dr. O. Obiseye (Deputy Director, Directorate of Intercampus and Public Affairs), Mr. Jibola Oyekunle (Assistant Registrar, Corporate Affairs-DICPA), Mrs. Adeyanju and Mr. Ibrahim from the State Ministry of Health.

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Osun State University, Mallam Yusuf Ali was among the prominent lawyers and Senior Advocates of Nigeria who joined the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and his Ghanaian counterpart, Nana Akufo-Addo at the just concluded 58th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association held at the International Conference Center, Abuja.

Osun State University through its Legal Unit also participated actively in the conference that was attended by well over 10,000 delegates from across the globe, including Nigeria, Bars of the Americas, Asia, Europe and other parts of Africa, among whom were speakers and attendees.

The Conference held from Sunday, 26th to Thursday, 30th August, 2018 was declared open by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), who delivered a speech on the supremacy of the Rule of Law.
Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo delivered the keynote address that centered around the conference theme on “Transition, Transformation and Sustainable Institutions”.

There were plenary sessions anchored by dignitaries within and outside the legal parlance, among whom were a former Head of State of Nigeria General Abdulsalam Abubakar (Retired), Keith Boyfield from the United Kingdom, Laurin Kleiman from United States of America, Philipp Hackett from the United Kingdom, Mallam Yusuff Alli (SAN), the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Osun State University,Prof Kanyisola Ajayi ( SAN), Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), Wole Olanipekun (SAN) among others.

The topics discussed at the Conference include: Strengthening Institutions for Economic Risk Management, Access to Arbitral Justice, Technology Disruption, Emergence of Disruptive Technologies in Legal Education and Rule of Law and Security.
The event ended with the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected Executives of the Nigerian Bar Association, headed by Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN) as the President and other members of his team to run the affairs of the Association for the next two years.

The Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, Professor Labode Popoola was recently thrown into a happy mood when the Management of Delta State University, Abraka donated a sum of two million and fifty thousand naira cheque to Miss Lawal Karimot Omolara, a 300-level physically challenged student of History and International Relations, Osun State University.

The Vice-Chancellor was represented by Dr. Adesote Adesola, a Lecturer in the Department of History and International Relations, College of Humanity and Culture of the university during the formal cheque presentation event held on Wednesday, 19th September, 2018 in the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Center, Alahusa, Ikeja, Lagos, where the Vice-Chancellor of Delta State University handed over cheques of a sum of two million and fifty thousand naira to Karimot.
Professor Labode Popoola expressed deep appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor, Management team and staff of Delta State University for coming to the aid of this young visionary girl regardless of regional and ethnic differences.

Professor Popoola recalled that Osun State University has similar welfare scheme not only for students but for the entire staff members of the university. He however, acknowledged the uniqueness in this rare hand of fellowship and for extending this kind of humanitarian gesture beyond and across region.

He said, “This alone is capable of fostering national cohesion and promoting inter-regional integrations.”
It will be recalled that on 28th April, 2018, The Punch Newspaper published an article through which Miss Lawal Karimot solicited for aid to relieve her of her 116-year-old agony.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Delta State University, Professor Victor Peretomode, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor (Mrs) Roseline Aziza, gave account of how Management of Delta State University picked interest in Karimot’s story, having made necessary findings to ascertain its veracity.

According to him, “The Vice-Chancellor of the Delta State University, Abraka, Professor Victor Peretomode, presented Karimot’s story to the Senate of the University at its 156th regular meeting on the 30th of April. The University Senate unanimously decided to intervene and end Karimot’s pain of sixteen years by raising the needed money through donations by members.

“In a nutshell, the story revolves around an accident she had at the age of five during which part of her foot was cut off and subsequently taken way by a dog. The inability to get the right medical attention due to financial constraints exposed Karimot to humiliation, discrimination, physical, emotional and psychological agony. In spite of her condition, her story sounded heroic and inspiring as she laboured hard to earn money no matter how little to enable her to go to school. The highlight of the story was an appeal for financial assistance for her to seek the right medical help and buy a prosthesis costing one million and eight hundred thousand naira (1,800,000).

“As part of our University’s determination to advance the cause of humanity, we are presenting Miss Karimot Lawal with a total sum of one million and eight hundred thousand naira (N1, 800,000) which is the full sum for the prosthesis as well as another two hundred and fifty thousand naira (N250,000) in order for her to complete her university education without further stress.” She concluded, as she presented the sum of N2.05million cheques to Karimot on behalf of DELSU Vice-Chancellor.

The event had in attendance, delegates from Delta State University led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor (Mrs) Roseline Aziza, wife of the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. (Mrs) Otiaroghene Peremode, Professor Sani Awhefeada (University Orator), Professor (Mrs) Florenbce Ugoji (Senate Representative), Dr. Emma-Ibri Ufuophia (Senate Representative), Dr.(Mrs) Ugozi Nwabuoku (Director, Medical Services) and Mr. Freeborn Aganbi (University PRO).
Delegates from Osun State University include Dr. Adesote Adesola and Mr. Fagunwa Temitope, from the College of Humanities and Culture, Ikire.
Also in attendance are family members of the beneficiary, men of the press and a host of other well wishers.