Work hard, be patient, Ohimegye Opanda advises FULafia vice-chancellor

In continuation of his visit to traditional rulers in the state, the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, was on Thursday at Umaisha.

The visit to Umaisha can be described as home coming for the vice-chancellor, who hails from the ancient town.

Abdul Rahman, while at Umaisha, was advised by the royal father, the Ohimegye of Opanda, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, to work peacefully with the members of his management team to develop FULafia.

The Ohimegye of Opanda said: “Be patient and accommodating of different people and opinions because without showing respect to your co-workers it’ll be hard task leading them.”

The royal father, who described Abdul Rahman as his son and a title holder of shetima in his palace, however, expressed his confidence in the vice-chancellor’s ability to effectively and efficiently run affairs of the University, saying: “I know you and what you can do because you are a very focused and determined person.”

The traditional ruler called on the authorities of the University to always discharge their functions with the fear of Allah, saying “that without that things will go wrong easily.”

In his speech, the vice-chancellor said that he was at the palace of the Ohimegye of Opanda to seek his blessings as he commenced his tenure of office.

He urged the traditional ruler to shut his doors to those who may seek to use his influence to “put undue pressure on me because they know that as your son, I can’t disappoint you or turn down your requests.”

The vice-chancellor explained to the Ohimegye of Opanda that “universities depend on rules to be properly governed and these rules must not be toyed with, otherwise, the system will collapse.”

Abdul Rahman thanked the traditional ruler for the warm reception he accorded him and members of his entourage, saying he won’t forget their visit to the palace.

Highlight of the visit was the presentation of a book written by Joe Dauda on the history of the Ohimegye Opanda who collected gift of kola nuts from the vice-chancellor.

Those who went with Abdul Rahman to Umaisha included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Idris Amali, Registrar, Dr. Abubakar Mamuda, Deputy Registrar (Quality Assurance) Dr. Abubakar Ahmed II.