Daud Olatunji
The Concerned Staff of the Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology (SACOETEC), Omu-Ajose, have raised serious concerns over the recent shortlisting of candidates for the position of Provost in the institution.
In an open letter addressed to the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, the staff expressed disappointment and frustration over what they described as a “flagrant disregard” for the stipulated criteria in the recruitment process.
According to the letter, which was signed by representatives of the concerned staff, two applicants—Prof. Muyiwa Adeyemi from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and Dr. Sunday Adegbesan from the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Ondo State—were shortlisted for the position.
However, the staff argued that neither candidate met the qualifications outlined in the advertorial published on July 19, 2024.
According to the aggrieved staff, the advertorial explicitly stated that the next Provost must be a Chief Lecturer from a college of education system.
The staff emphasized that there is no Chief Lecturer cadre in the university or research institute systems, thereby disqualifying both shortlisted candidates from the start.
“It is disheartening and disappointing that these two applicants, who do not meet the basic qualifications as stipulated by the advert, were shortlisted and interviewed,” the letter stated.
“This is a clear disregard for the recruitment criteria and raises serious questions about the integrity of the selection process.”
The staff further argued that the best candidate for the Provost position should be an internal staff member of SACOETEC.
They believe that only an insider, who has experienced the challenges and developments of the institution firsthand, can effectively address the welfare issues that have plagued the college for years.
“Your dream of completely taking SACOETEC out of the woods can only be achieved if our next Provost is an internal staff,” the letter continued.
“An internal staff-Provost knows where the pot-holes of outstanding welfare issues of staff exist.
Hence, solving them completely will not be a problem. Giving us an outsider as our next Provost, for the third time, may further compound the outstanding welfare issues of the College.”
The letter also highlighted the history of external appointments in the college, noting that the first Provost, the late Prof. Biodun Ojo, and the outgoing Provost, Dr. Adeola Kiadese, were both outsiders.
The letter read “ Prof. Ojo, who served from October 2008 to September 2016, was brought in from outside the institution, as was Dr. Kiadese, who has been in charge since September 2016.
The concerned staff urged Governor Abiodun to consider the unique challenges faced by SACOETEC and to appoint an internal candidate who understands the institution’s needs and has a vested interest in its success.
“We believe that SACOETEC has capable and qualified candidates within its ranks who can lead the institution and steer it toward greater heights,” the letter concluded.
“We respectfully urge you, sir, to consider the welfare of the staff and the future of the college in your decision.”
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