With the five years single tenure of the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. (Mrs) Lilian Imuetinyan Salami, comes to end in a few days’ time, it is pertinent to salute the second woman VC of the great UNIBEN as the journey has no doubt been that of a dream come true for madam VC, as she is fondly called.
It is imperative to also salute the erudite professor who delivered one of the finest inaugural lectures with the topics, ” If The Scientists Don’t know, How Can I? Is it a case of Too Much Information. ” and the 206 inaugural lecture series of the University of Benin on 30th August 2018, with a thrilling discovery.
According to Walt Disney ,
“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”
This no doubt brings Prof. (Mrs) Salami’s 5 years tenure, which commenced in December 2nd, 2019 to the fore.
As Prof. (Mrs)Salami moves to hand over the baton to her successor following her end of tenure on December 2nd, 2024, it is a joyful day for the illustrious mother and woman of substance testament to her dedication , resilience, and hard work which stands her in her career journey.
Her journey on earth started on 8 August 1956 with many challenges confronting her as a gril child as well as the African child, but she stoop to conquer and became the celebrated Nigerian academic who was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Benin in 2019.
She is the second female vice-chancellor of the university after Grace Alele-Williams in 1985, an uncommon feat among women of her pedigree.
Her political voyage cemented many of her relationships with the powerful and famous within and outside the country, earning her the director-general/chief executive of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Ondo State, Nigeria, where she held sway until her dream to be a Vice-Chancellor became a reality.
Madam Vice-Chancellor, as she is fondly called by friends, colleagues, and associates, is a
professor of home economics/nutritional education and a member of the advisory council to the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Ukukpolokpolo, Ogidigan, Oba Ewuare II
Salami, a former dean, faculty of education at the University of Benin, is a Fellow of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria and International Federation of Home Economics/Home Professional Association of Nigeria.
Proudly a traditional woman from the Great Benin Kingdom and an intellectual trained in renowned foreign institution such as North Dakota University and Vaal University of Technology, she excelled in every endeavor she ventured into.
To be remembered as the 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University, Salami’s indelible mark of noticeable achievements stands unparalleled in the university community trajectory.
She has vast knowledge of the university having the best of university education starting from the University of Benin and the University of Nigeria, which prepared her for the big dream and lofty positions she attained in her academic sojourn.
The soft spoken Madam VC who succeeded Prof. Osasere Orumwense will be succeeded by, Prof, Edoba Omoregie, a great academic colossus and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on December 2nd, 2024.
Like the saying goes, the quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves. “,Madam Vice-Chancellor has not only set a standard for herself but has done her part, and history will be kind to her for excellence in service to fatherland.
Just as it is the hope of all that the new administration of the Iroko and man of valour, Prof Edoba Omoregie (SAN) hit the ground running and surpass the visionnof his predecessors, because the common axiom remains that leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.
According to John Maxwell, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way,” and for Donald H. McGannon “Leadership is action, not position.”
As Prof . Lilian Imuetinyan Salami takes a bow. We expect the very best from our very own and amiable VC designate Prof . Edoba Omoregie, to emulate great minds to deliver UNIBEN to greater heights.
Bill Gates, in one of his famous quotes, said , “As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.” We hope to see a leader in Prof. Edoba Omoregie, one committed to prospering the university community and making his constituency ( Faculty of Law) proud as a true leader who empower others.