By Osahon Osahon
A Professor of Home Economics/Nutritional
Education, Mrs. Lilian Imuetinyan Salami has emerged as the second female Vice
Chancellor of the University Benin (UNIBEN).
Her appointment came 28 years after Prof. (Mrs.) Alele William left as the first female Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN.
The Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Michael Osasuyi, confirmed the appointment in a statement on Friday in Benin.
She will take over from the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof. Faraday Osasere Orumwense, whose tenure ends in November.
The emergence of Professor Salami still baffles many, as she becomes the third person of Benin extraction is succession, to be named Vice Chancellor of the University.
It was reliably gathered that she came second in the exam conducted for aspirants for the exulted position, after Prof. MacDonald Idu who scored the highest marks, while Prof. George Eriyamremu came third.
Professors Idu and Eremayanru are both from Delta State.
Uniben’s Vice Chancellorship is an Edo/ Delta affair! An Edo descent is always preferred followed by a Delta descent.
Though it’s a federal college and should not matter where the VC comes from but I’m happy they have another female VC. I matriculated there in 1990 & spent less than 2 years with Alele William. No other VC can even make the kind of leadership impact she made.
Prof. Felix Okieimen’s nomination right after Alele was another Edo affair. Okieimen I believe was the least qualified among all nominees at the time but it was time for an Esan (an Edo State ethnic group) whereas the school was packed with older, more experienced and more qualified Professors then.
Keep in mind, when Alele was appointed, it was Bendel state and she was viewed as a descent bcos there was not Edo-Delta dichotomy then.