We hope to bring to your notice what we see and believe in trusting the affair of our dear STATE through Almighty Allah and the intervention of an Honorable Man...... This may be hard to deal with, but please take your time to get the comprehensive detail we intend to present. Prof. Oba Abdulraheem has indeed been a pillar of human capital development and overall progress of our society since long before now. Testimonies abound about the impacts he has made on the lives of people. Read on extracts from his profile: “Between 1975 and 1997, Oba Abdulraheem served at various times while in the service of the Bayero University Kano as among others: • Head of the Department of English and European Languages (1985-1991) • Dean of the Post Graduate School (1991-1995) • Member, sub-committee on Minimum Academic Standards for Postgraduate Studies in Nigerian Universities – under the auspices of the Committee of Deans of postgraduate Schools of Nigeria Universities • Member of Senate and key Senate Committees at Bayero University, Kano (1985 -1997) Professor Abdulraheem also served as the Chairman of such key University Committees as the: • Examination Malpractices Committee (1994-1996) • Students Disciplinary Committee (1994-1996) • Students Welfare Board (1994-1996) • Academic and Ceremonial Robes Modification Committee (1996) He was elected as a member of the Bayero University Governing Council, representing Senate between 1990 and 1994 when he served on such Committees as: • Senior Staff Disciplinary and Appeals Committee • Tenders Board • Joint Council/Senate selection Committee for the appointment of Vice- Chancellor • Task Force Committee on abandoned projects While Prof. Abdulraheem was still in the service of the Bayero University, the Kwara State Government sought him out for his diligence and commitment to set- goals and appointed him as the Sole Administrator of the Kwara State College of Education Oro, in 1984 with the sole aim of reversing the decay which was threatening the academic and administrative life of the young Institution. Later in the same year, he was further challenged to serve as the Chairman, Governing Council of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin – a position which he held till late 1986. Dedicated, disciplined and diligent, Abdulraheem, gradually built a solid academic career, as envisioned for him, and in general University administration. He, thus, rose steadily through the ladder from a green horn to a successful Professor of English in 1993. This wealth of cumulative Academic and Administrative experiences were to prepare Professor Abdulraheem for the highest office in the academia when he was picked from a pack of 19 seasoned academics who took part in the keen contest for the post of the Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin in August, 1997. Having successfully completed his tenure as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin in 2002, bequeathing to it a legacy of security from the scourge of cultism, brigandage and, above all, sustained period of stability in the academic calendar which have all earned the University the sobriquet “Better by Far”, Professor Oba Abdulraheem was yet called to serve as the Chairman, Kwara State Government (Political) Transition Committee between April and May, 2003. He was, later to serve as Chairman, Governing Council of Kwara State Polytechnic between 2005/2007, member, Governing Board of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) between 2006/2007 and Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of the Interim Governing Council of the Kwara State University which he helped to midwife between 2008/2009. Professor Oba Abdulraheem was appointed the third Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission in 2008. Since then, his charismatic aura and sterling qualities of inspirational leadership have continued to turn around the public perception and image of the Commission. His leadership style and efforts have produced, among others: • Increased awareness of the mandate of the Commission. • Enhanced visibility through aggressive publicity drive and public enlightenment. • Improved staff welfare Professor Abdulraheem had a brief stint at partisan politics in the year 2010 when he hearkened to the call of multitudes of Kwaran elders and youths who championed the desire to have him govern the State. As an aspirant to the Governorship position under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he was a frontline contender who inspired the populace to renew faith in the electoral process. He was later to lead the PDP Campaign Organization as Director-General after the Party agreed to zone the Governorship to the Kwara South Senatorial zone, another job he effectively delivered as the Party recorded a landslide, winning all of the positions contested for in the April 2011 elections. He was thereafter reinstated at the Federal Character Commission where he still holds forth, now doing a second term in office and has continued to champion the equitable and fair distribution of the resources and potential of this country to achieve unity and progress. Professor Shuaibu Oba Abdulraheem was in 2011 conferred with the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) award by His Excellency, Dr Goodluck Jonathan in recognition of his outstanding contribution to nation building. He is also a proud recipient of numerous awards from academic, community and religious bodies”. GOD BLESS KWARA, GOD BLESS NIGERIA.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:49:23 +0000