A Professor of Accounting at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Felix Olurankinse, has recommended reformation of budget processing, adoption of zero-based budgeting system, avoidance of extra-budgetary affairs, diversification of the economy, adoption of multi-year budgeting approach, reduction in the cost of governance, and adoption of public sector budgeting model as ways out of budget recklessness and alleged rampant cases of corruption in the civil and public services.

Prof. Olurankinse gave the recommendations on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, while delivering the 17th Inaugural Lecture of the University, entitled, “Budget Profligacy and Governance Failure in Nigeria: The Tripartite WHATS?”

The Inaugural Lecturer said, “If Nigeria is to depart from its present state of alleged cases of corruption of public officials which is our greatest challenges and build a budget institution based on trust, transparency, accountability and probity, the government must think more about motivation in the public service.

“The public officials must be motivated so that their advancement of self-interest can approximate the advancement of public interest. When government officials are properly rewarded, corruption will be drastically reduced, accountability will be enshrined, and we shall have a functional budget.”

He added, “Government officials are fond of spending money arbitrarily and embarking on project that are not provided for in the annual budget. The spending of government funds outside the budget should be discouraged and any government official or political office holder caught indulging in such acts should be adequately punished.”

Prof. Olurankinse, who defined a nation’s budget as the key to its economic performance as it provides a road map for government activities and programmes for a fiscal year, said instead of adopting foreign budgeting models, government should consider the nation’s peculiar political, economic and institutional factors in budgeting.

He also lamented the lopsidedness of recurrent expenditure against capital expenditure, saying, “The cost of governance in Nigeria is humongous due to excessively high cost of government contracts. There is an overbearing of recurrent expenditure at the expense of capital expenditure to actually stimulate the economy. Capital inflows need to be ring-fenced for effective budget performance.”

He stressed the need for involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including agencies, civil organizations, civil societies as well as financial experts in the process of developing budgets, adding that ‘the desire to eradicate or reduce poverty level and enhance efficient allocation of scarce resources in the country has altogether caused the focus on budget to assume a greater importance and prominence.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, had congratulated the Inaugural Lecturer on presenting the 17th Inaugural Lecture of the University.

The VC, who said the 17th Inaugural Lecture was a call to action on the part of governments, noted that as academics, students, policymakers, and citizens, we all bear the responsibility to advocate transparency, accountability, and good governance. 

According to him, we must all demand reforms that strengthen our institutions, eradicate corruption, and foster competent leadership at all levels of governance.

“Not only this, today’s discussion holds a special significance and provides a platform to engage in a thought-provoking discourse on a matter of utmost importance to our nation as it brings to mind the mind-boggling profligacy and wastage that have plagued budgets at both state and federal levels; a development that has stunted economic growth and progress in our nation”, Prof Ige added.

A Professor of Accounting at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Felix Olurankinse, has recommended reformation of budget processing, adoption of zero-based budgeting system, avoidance of extra-budgetary affairs, diversification of the economy, adoption of multi-year budgeting approach, reduction in the cost of governance, and adoption of public sector budgeting model as ways out of budget recklessness and alleged rampant cases of corruption in the civil and public services.

Prof. Olurankinse gave the recommendations on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, while delivering the 17th Inaugural Lecture of the University, entitled, “Budget Profligacy and Governance Failure in Nigeria: The Tripartite WHATS?”

The Inaugural Lecturer said, “If Nigeria is to depart from its present state of alleged cases of corruption of public officials which is our greatest challenges and build a budget institution based on trust, transparency, accountability and probity, the government must think more about motivation in the public service.

“The public officials must be motivated so that their advancement of self-interest can approximate the advancement of public interest. When government officials are properly rewarded, corruption will be drastically reduced, accountability will be enshrined, and we shall have a functional budget.”

He added, “Government officials are fond of spending money arbitrarily and embarking on project that are not provided for in the annual budget. The spending of government funds outside the budget should be discouraged and any government official or political office holder caught indulging in such acts should be adequately punished.”

Prof. Olurankinse, who defined a nation’s budget as the key to its economic performance as it provides a road map for government activities and programmes for a fiscal year, said instead of adopting foreign budgeting models, government should consider the nation’s peculiar political, economic and institutional factors in budgeting.

He also lamented the lopsidedness of recurrent expenditure against capital expenditure, saying, “The cost of governance in Nigeria is humongous due to excessively high cost of government contracts. There is an overbearing of recurrent expenditure at the expense of capital expenditure to actually stimulate the economy. Capital inflows need to be ring-fenced for effective budget performance.”

He stressed the need for involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including agencies, civil organizations, civil societies as well as financial experts in the process of developing budgets, adding that ‘the desire to eradicate or reduce poverty level and enhance efficient allocation of scarce resources in the country has altogether caused the focus on budget to assume a greater importance and prominence.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, had congratulated the Inaugural Lecturer on presenting the 17th Inaugural Lecture of the University.

The VC, who said the 17th Inaugural Lecture was a call to action on the part of governments, noted that as academics, students, policymakers, and citizens, we all bear the responsibility to advocate transparency, accountability, and good governance. 

According to him, we must all demand reforms that strengthen our institutions, eradicate corruption, and foster competent leadership at all levels of governance.

“Not only this, today’s discussion holds a special significance and provides a platform to engage in a thought-provoking discourse on a matter of utmost importance to our nation as it brings to mind the mind-boggling profligacy and wastage that have plagued budgets at both state and federal levels; a development that has stunted economic growth and progress in our nation”, Prof Ige added.

The Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, has said that the Management of the Institution has begun the process of bolstering its postgraduate programmes in line with the best global practices.

Prof. Ige stated this on Wednesday, June 8, 2023, while declaring open a one-day workshop, entitled, “Repositioning AAUA Postgraduate School Towards Meeting 21st Century Challenges.”

The VC said, “At the level of the Senate, we have emphasized the need for us to strengthen our postgraduate programmes. It is important that we reinvigorate our postgraduate programmes to meet up with the international standards. The Management will do all in its powers to make the Postgraduate School of AAUA be on top of its game.

“It is our desire to see that our graduates and those of other institutions find our postgraduate programmes more fascinating, and we will not leave any stone unturned to achieve this.”

He thanked the Guest Speaker and Lead Paper Presenter, Prof. Ganiyu Oboh, for accepting to share his wealth of experience with the University, urging the participants who are Principal Officers, Deans, Directors, Heads of Department, Professors, Lecturers with Ph.D. and above, to imbibe the lessons of the workshop as the University is in a hurry to strengthen its postgraduate programmes.  

Interrogating the theme of the workshop, Prof. Oboh, who is from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, said that, for Postgraduate programmes to be more virile in Nigeria, institutions must begin to float interdisciplinary programmes with other institutions and research centres focusing on its areas of comparative advantage.

Prof. Oboh counselled, “It is high time Nigerian universities and specialized research centres started to collaborate with one another to run interdisciplinary postgraduate programmes such that we will be able to meet the numerous needs prevalent in our society.”

He enjoined the University Management to ensure that its graduate Programmes meet global standard, while adequate attention should be given to efficient ICT, strong mentorship, provision of grants, support and incentive for students and staff, as well as provision of effective feedback mechanism.

Other speakers at the workshops included, Prof. Olubayo Oluduro, who spoke on, “Postgraduate Academic Regulations”; Prof. Benson Igboin, who examined, “Grant Winning Dissertation and Thesis Topics”; Prof. Emmanuel Ogunbodede, who talked on, “Abstract: Contents and Procedures”; and Prof. Alaba Gbadamosi, who spoke on, “Mainstreaming Quality Assurance Towards Combating Plagiarism and Other Unwholesome Practices.”

Earlier, his address, the Dean of Postgraduate School, Prof. Benson Akinnawonu, said the workshop was designed for all Postgraduate stakeholders involved in Postgraduate teaching, supervision, and administration in order to improve their capacity building and mainstream quality assurance.  

Prof. Akinnawonu who lauded the VC for approving the capacity building workshop, appreciated other speakers for acceding to take up the responsibility. He also thanked the Local Organizing Committee under the leadership of the Dean of Faculty of Science, Prof. Isaac Ololade, for putting up a befitting workshop.

The Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, has said that the Management of the Institution has begun the process of bolstering its postgraduate programmes in line with the best global practices.

Prof. Ige stated this on Wednesday, June 8, 2023, while declaring open a one-day workshop, entitled, “Repositioning AAUA Postgraduate School Towards Meeting 21st Century Challenges.”

The VC said, “At the level of the Senate, we have emphasized the need for us to strengthen our postgraduate programmes. It is important that we reinvigorate our postgraduate programmes to meet up with the international standards. The Management will do all in its powers to make the Postgraduate School of AAUA be on top of its game.

“It is our desire to see that our graduates and those of other institutions find our postgraduate programmes more fascinating, and we will not leave any stone unturned to achieve this.”

He thanked the Guest Speaker and Lead Paper Presenter, Prof. Ganiyu Oboh, for accepting to share his wealth of experience with the University, urging the participants who are Principal Officers, Deans, Directors, Heads of Department, Professors, Lecturers with Ph.D. and above, to imbibe the lessons of the workshop as the University is in a hurry to strengthen its postgraduate programmes.  

Interrogating the theme of the workshop, Prof. Oboh, who is from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, said that, for Postgraduate programmes to be more virile in Nigeria, institutions must begin to float interdisciplinary programmes with other institutions and research centres focusing on its areas of comparative advantage.

Prof. Oboh counselled, “It is high time Nigerian universities and specialized research centres started to collaborate with one another to run interdisciplinary postgraduate programmes such that we will be able to meet the numerous needs prevalent in our society.”

He enjoined the University Management to ensure that its graduate Programmes meet global standard, while adequate attention should be given to efficient ICT, strong mentorship, provision of grants, support and incentive for students and staff, as well as provision of effective feedback mechanism.

Other speakers at the workshops included, Prof. Olubayo Oluduro, who spoke on, “Postgraduate Academic Regulations”; Prof. Benson Igboin, who examined, “Grant Winning Dissertation and Thesis Topics”; Prof. Emmanuel Ogunbodede, who talked on, “Abstract: Contents and Procedures”; and Prof. Alaba Gbadamosi, who spoke on, “Mainstreaming Quality Assurance Towards Combating Plagiarism and Other Unwholesome Practices.”

Earlier, his address, the Dean of Postgraduate School, Prof. Benson Akinnawonu, said the workshop was designed for all Postgraduate stakeholders involved in Postgraduate teaching, supervision, and administration in order to improve their capacity building and mainstream quality assurance.  

Prof. Akinnawonu who lauded the VC for approving the capacity building workshop, appreciated other speakers for acceding to take up the responsibility. He also thanked the Local Organizing Committee under the leadership of the Dean of Faculty of Science, Prof. Isaac Ololade, for putting up a befitting workshop.

The 17th Inaugural Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, will hold on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at the Multipurpose Hall of the University.

The Inaugural Lecture which will start by 2.pm will be delivered by Professor Felix Olurankinse, a Professor of Accounting.  Prof. Olurankinse will deliver his lecture on the topic, “Budget Profligacy and Governance Failure in Nigeria: The Tripartite WHATS?”  

Prof. Olurankinse holds Bachelor of Science from the University of Ado-Ekiti; Master of Science, University of Lagos and Doctor of Philosophy in Accountancy from Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria. He is the current Dean of the Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences of the University.

The Inaugural Lecturer has published many articles in local and international journals and has carried out researches in Accountancy. 

A statement by the Chairman of Ceremonies Committee and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Adebisi Daramola, has it that the lecture will be chaired by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, Vice Chancellor Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko.

Guests are also enjoined to be seated by 1.30pm

Hon. Biola Oladapo (HBO), a member of the just inaugurated 10th House of Assembly in Ondo State, representing Ondo West Constituency 2, has reassured the people of his constituency of quality and effective representation aimed at making their lives more meaningful.

Hon. Oladapo said aside his primary legislative functions of law making, oversight function on the Executive, effective representation and others alike, he is resolute to embark on programmes and activities that will improve the welfare of his constituents.

The lawmaker spoke on Saturday at the Assembly Complex in Akure, the Ondo State capital, shortly after the inauguration of the 10th Assembly.

He explained that his “QAAARE” Agenda which centres on Quality Representation, Access to Education, Access to clean water, Health Care, Rural development and Empowerment programmes, as encapsulated in the Pacts, will be fully implemented for the betterment of his people.

He solicited the support of all and sundry to achieve the desired results.

 Hon. Oladapo expressed his gratitude to the Almighty God and the good people of his constituency, for finding him worthy as a worthy ambassador to represent their interest in the chamber, saying it is the greatest honour ever to be accorded, just like the saying “service to humanity is the greatest work of life”.

He also used the occasion to congratulate the Speaker of the 10th Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abayomi Akinruntan and other Principal Officers of the House on their election.

The lawmaker specially thanked the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, for his leadership quality which has brought a lot of progress and development to the State since he assumed office.

“Now that the work has formally begun, aside my primary legislative function of law making, oversight function on the Executive, effective representation and others alike, I am resolute to embark on these PACTS for the betterment of the affairs of my people.

“The QAAARE agenda encapsulates Quality Representation, that aims at a leadership that carries every constituents along in decision making and report decisions and plan back to them. Access to Education: this has already begun with the Oladapo Scholarship Scheme where indigent but education inclined constituents are supported to achieve their educational dreams and aspiration. This is because a mind that knows is a mind that’s free.

“Access to clean water: we will partner with public/private ventures to facilitate and make available potable water for the Constituency. Health Care and rural development are also included in the QUAAARE pacts.

“Empowerment programmes which we have started will be intensified upon. 

I am determined to work with every individuals and stakeholders of the Constituency to ensure these agenda are followed to the letter and achieved maximally. I appeal for the continued support of our constituents to achieve a success inclined tenure.

“I thank our result oriented and masses based Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for a visionary leadership that has been driving the state to exponential growth and development. I similarly accord reference to the inputs of our party leaders and stakeholders for all they are doing to ensure the continued resounding success the party and the administration is recording timely.

“I laud the consistency and steadfastness of our party members, residents, indigenes of Ondo West Constituency II.

“I also appreciate my wife, my immediate and extended family for their love and support thus far, while I anticipate more of it as we commence this journey”, he added.

Three students from the Faculty of Law of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, are set to represent Nigeria at the forthcoming International Moot Competition which will hold at the Leiden University, The Hague, in the Netherlands.

The Competition, which draws participants from over 100 universities across all continents of the world, is billed to hold from June 1 to June 10, 2023. 

It is organized by the International Court of Justice (ICC) and the International Bar Association.

The AAUA students are: Abdulhaaq Mutairu Buhari (500L), Honour Oluwakorede Dahunsi (500L), and Adetomiwa Isaac Fowowe (400L). They will be accompanied and coached by Dr. Godfrey Matthew Esq., a lecturer with the Faculty of Law.

The Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr. Olugbenga Oke-Samuel, who disclosed this on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, said that the trip of the students is bankrolled by the International Bar Association, which awarded the University one of two global grants it gave for the competition.

Dr. Oke-Samuel added that the feat of participating in the Moot Competition has affirmed the numero uno position of the Faculty of Law of the Adekunle Ajasin University as the best training ground for top-notch lawyers in the country.

In his words, “Three of our students will be representing the University, and by extension the country, at the coming International Moot Competition coming up at The Hague, the Netherlands, between June 1 and June 10.

“It is also noteworthy that the sagacity and feats of our students earned them the sponsorship and the grant of the International Bar Association. The three students flying our flag have been involved in several related competitions in the country and have proved themselves worthy of being pitted against their peers from other Universities across the globe.

“We are excited our Institution is part of this top-flight global competition. No doubt, Adekunle Ajasin University is proud to be representing the country. This is a testament to the fact that our Faculty has always been in the forefront of delivering quality legal education and training of top-notch lawyers in the country.”

In a bid to bolster its service delivery to students and alumni in terms of processing of results and other academic records, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, held a seminar for both its academic and non-academic staff.

The seminar, tagged, “Sanctity of Examination Result Processing and Record Keeping”, was organized by the Teaching and Leadership Centre of the University, and was attended by all Principal Officers, Deans and Sub-Deans, Level Course Advisors, Result Processing Officers, and Date Entry Clerks (Result Processing), among others.

Declaring the seminar open, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, said the seminar was part of his administration’s effort to ensure global standard of service delivery.

Prof. Ige said, “We must not relent on our present status as the Best State University in the country. We must improve on what we are doing presently. We must reinvigorate our services such that we can serve all stakeholders that subscribe to them better.”

Prof. Ige stressed the sacrosanctity of registration deadline for students and deadline for uploading results by lecturers.

While urging all participants to take full advantage that the seminar would offer and demonstrate it on their duties, the VC thanked the Director of the Teaching and Leadership Centre, Prof. Oluyemisi Adebowale, for thinking it essential to organize the seminar.

In her Welcome Address, Prof. Adebowale said the seminar became imperative to further enlighten and equip participants with the necessary tools to ensure that result processing and record keeping practices were indisputable and beyond reproach, adding that the effectiveness of the key players, correctness and compliance with rules and regulations and timeliness were essential to result processing and record keeping.

She thanked the VC for his commitment to excellence in training staff for effectiveness.

Prof. Benson Akinnawonu took the participants through, “AAUA Academic Regulations, while Prof. Bolanle Ogungbamila examined, “Examination and Result Administration: AAUA in the Build-up to, During and After Examinations.

Dr. D. B Adewole spoke on, “Demands and Challenges of Result Processing”. Prof. Francis Gbore talked on, “Challenges of Result Vetting”, while Barr. Grace Babalola spoke on, “Academic Record Keeping; Results and Students’ Transcripts: Global Best Practices”.

War on terrorism, banditry and other forms of insecurity would only be won if the Federal Government can ‘uproot the domestic pillars of terrorism, stop the growth of terrorism and declare a total non-partisan war on the use of terror, lay a new foundation for a new Nigeria in which religious bigotry, ethnic chauvinism, politico-economic chicanery, and the toga of selfishness and irrationalities will be thrown into the garbage of history’.

This was the submission of a 

Don and security consultant, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, while speaking as Guest Lecturer at the 14th Public Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, on Thursday, May 25, 2023. 

The lecture was titled, “Prolonged Insurgency and Internationalization of Domestic Terrorism in Nigeria: The Missing Strategic Approach”.

Prof. Akinterinwa, a former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, added that the missing strategic approaches behind the spread of terrorism included the tendency of government to underestimate the strength of the terrorists, indulgence in self-deceit and strategic miscalculation, failure to involve youths in the fight against terrorism, and the myopia of leaders in politico-security governance.

The Guest Lecturer, who is also the President/Director General of Bolytag Centre for International Diplomacy and Strategic Studies, likened the absorption of captured militants and terrorists into the civil and public services as well as other arms of government to accommodating government enemies in the corridors of power in government.

He also fingered the widespread use of the social media, foreign travels, religious fundamentalism, ideological partisanship, social activism, and the failure of government to provide good governance and services, which led to disgruntlement and disillusionment on the part of many as contributory factors to why terrorism has gone global and spreading.

He said further, “We contend here that the government of Nigeria, like the governments of other African countries, wrongly believe that they are just simply fighting terrorists and insurgents. They have not been able to expose those funding terrorism in Africa even though they claim to know them.

“This is one major missing strategic approach that should be tabled for further discussion. Nigeria cannot be rightly said to have technically defeated the Boko Haram. On the contrary, it is Nigeria that has technically conceded defeat by giving public impression of a success be it technically or otherwise”.

In his Opening Address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, had described the Lecture as epochal because it marked another step in the quest of the University to revive university culture and best practices.

Promising that such lecture would become a regular occurrence, Prof. Ige added that ideas and ideals that drive social change and progress were often ventilated via avenues like seminars, lectures and workshops.

He thanked the Guest Lecturer for accepting to share his thoughts on the topical issue.

The federal government on Thursday flagged off the construction and dualization of Akure-Ado-Ekiti Road, with a commitment that it will be completed at the stipulated time.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, who apologised to the people of Ondo and Ekiti states for the delay in reconstructing the road, said necessary documentation had been completed and payment had been made to the contractors for the smooth take off of the project.

The Minister allayed the fears of the people, saying that the project will not be abandoned as its financing structure with tax credit is such that would not be affected by change of administration.

Fashola commended the Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, for his unrelenting efforts in ensuring the road was re-awarded and is flagged off before the end of his tenure as Minister.

According to him, Adegoroye has not only done well for the people of Ondo State even more than those who spent 4 years or 8 years, he has added value to the cabinet of the Buhari administration.

He said: “Barely under a year that Prince Ademola Adegoroye has been a Minister, I know how many memoranda has presented despite the fact that he has a substantive Minister.

“It is an understatement to say he has been on my neck on this road project.  He chases me with telephone every day on this road. He said he would not be able to return home (to Ondo State) after the expiration of tenure if the road does not take off,” the Works Minister said.

In his remark, the Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, said he was happy and fulfilled to witness the flag off of the reconstruction of the road, which he said means a lot for the economic prosperity of the two States.

Adegoroye said: “I took it as a serious task to pursue this project because this road is so important to us. A lot of people live in Ado and work in Akure and vice versa.

“When our governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, sent me to Abuja, he asked me to do something about Akure/Ado road and get the Ondo Port approval. I am fulfilled today that I have delivered on both.”

The Minister appealed to the people, especially host communities and traditional rulers to cooperate with the contractors handling the project so everything can go on smoothly and the project can be delivered at the stipulated time.

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Engr Raimi Aminu and Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, who was represented by the Head of Service of the State, Mr. Ayodeji Ajayi, in their goodwill messages, said the project when completed would reduce suffering of residents of the two States and boost economic activities between them.

The event was attended by traditional rulers from the two States, including the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi and the Ewi of Ado Ekoti, Oba Rufus Adejuyigbe as well as Senator Ayo Akinyelure of Ondo Central.