The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, has made a passionate appeal to the American government, urging it to support Nigeria with critical technology and equipment to combat the nation's protracted insecurity, rather than issuing threats of war.
A Plea for Practical Support
Prof. Egbewole made this significant call on Tuesday while speaking with journalists at the "Unilorin @50: Gold Never Rusts" event, which is part of the institution's ongoing weeklong Diamond jubilee celebration. He explicitly requested both software and hardware assistance from the United States to effectively defeat the criminal elements plaguing the country.
"I urge the American government to assist the Nigerian government with technology and equipment, both software and hardware, to defeat the monsters that make our lives nasty, brutish and short," the VC stated. He further cautioned that any approach from the US other than this kind of practical assistance could trigger a "Cobra Effect", a situation where an attempted solution inadvertently makes a problem worse, which he stressed must be avoided at all costs.
A Call for National Unity Against Insecurity
Beyond international aid, Prof. Egbewole emphasized the critical need for internal solidarity. He urged all Nigerians to set aside their ethnic, religious, and political differences to collectively confront the security challenges facing the nation.
"Now is the time for Nigerians to come together... to collectively confront the challenges of insecurity facing the country," he declared. He reinforced this by adding, "Therefore, if there is a time for Nigerians to rally together and confront criminals and humans among us, now is the time for Nigerians to put ethnic, religious and political differences aside to save Nigeria from these current orgies of violence."
Unilorin's Golden Jubilee and Future Vision
While addressing the pressing national issue, the Vice-Chancellor also took pride in the university's achievements over the past half-century. He noted that Unilorin has been consistently ranked the best university in Nigeria and was the first in the country to be ranked among the top 20 in Africa.
He called on all stakeholders—students, staff, alumni, and friends—to support the university in accomplishing its vision, which aligns with the Strategic Plan of its "Golden age." Prof. Egbewole affirmed that the "Better by Far" university remains committed to its core values encapsulated in the acronym INJECT: Integrity, Networking, Justice, Excellence, and Teamwork.
Looking forward, he expressed optimism, stating, "As we march into the future ahead, the university is poised to glitter more, adding brightness and value to the lives of the future generations of not only Nigerians but also other members of our shared humanity across the world."
Fresh Kidnapping Incident in Kwara State
In a stark reminder of the very insecurity the VC spoke against, armed bandits have struck again in Kwara State. Exactly a week after attacking a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in the Eruku community, Ekiti Local Government Area, the outlaws invaded the neighbouring Isapa community.
This recent attack, which eyewitnesses say occurred on Monday evening around 6:00 p.m., resulted in the kidnapping of 11 people. This comes on the heels of the previous week's raid where masked men killed three people, injured many—including a local vigilante—and abducted 38 church worshippers. The victims from that earlier incident included a pregnant woman, two nursing mothers, and children. A source has confirmed that three of the kidnapped victims from the latest incident have managed to escape to safety.
