The Governing Council of the University of Ilorin has approved the appointment of Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla as the University’s Registrar-designate.
Mr Alfanla, who is a Deputy Registrar and current Secretary of the institution’s Postgraduate School, will take over from the current Registrar, Dr Fola M. Olowoleni, when her tenure ends in April.
A statement made available to newsmen in Ilorin at the weekend by the institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, disclosed that the appointment was one of the highlights of the 183rd meeting of the Council held last Thursday (March 23, 2023) and presided over by Prof. Saburi A. Adesanya, its Ag. Chairman.
The development followed the rigorous consideration of the reports of the Selection Committee earlier constituted by the Council, which evaluated the eligibility of the candidates shortlisted for the interview to fill the soon-to-be-vacant position.
With the appointment, Mr Alfanla is scheduled to become the 7th Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Council of the University and the third occupant of the office who passed through the ranks in the administrative cadre of the University before attaining the pinnacle of his career at the same institution.
An indigene of Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, Mr Alfanla was born on August 28, 1970 in the city of Ilorin. He attended the famous Ansarul Islam Primary School, Ilorin, where he received his primary education certificate. He was also educated at the Omupo Grammar School, Omupo, from where he earned his West African School Certificate in 1988.
In 1990, the Registrar-designate proceeded to the Bayero University, Kano, for his Bachelor of Arts (Combined Honours) degree in English/Mass Communication, which he earned in 1995. Mr Alfanla also attended the University of Ilorin between 2006 and 2010 for his Bachelor’s degree in Common Law. He followed his LL.B. up with his attendance of the Nigerian Law School, Abuja at the end of which he was called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2012. He, again, in 2015, enrolled for his Master’s degree in law and completed the programme in 2016.
After offering his mandatory national youth service (NYSC) programme at Girls Commercial School, Nanka, Anambra State from 1995 to 1996, the Registrar-designate joined the services of the University of Ilorin as an Administrative Assistant during the tenure of the 6th Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Shuaibu Oba AbdulRaheem, OFR in 1998. He was promoted to the rank of Administrative Officer in 2001. He became an Assistant Registrar in 2005.
Following his consistent hard work and loyalty to the University, Mr Alfanla was deservedly elevated to the rank of Senior Assistant Registrar in 2009. He became a Principal Assistant Registrar in 2013. This outstanding university administrator was eventually promoted to the rank of Deputy Registrar in 2016.
In the last 25 years of his services to be nation’s most sought-after University, Mr Alfanla has served in various capacities and on several committees either as the Chairman or Secretary. Among the several responsibilities he was saddled with was the University’s Admission Officer, which he competently offered under two different administrations headed by Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, OFR, CON and Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, OON; between 2009 and 2013. He also served as the Deputy Registrar, Academic Support Services.
A thoroughbred administrator and veteran unionist, the Registrar-designate initially served as Secretary and later as the Chairman of the University of Ilorin’s Chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SAANU) from 2004 to 2007 and between 2007 to 2015, respectively. He was also the National Treasurer of the Association between 2015 and 2016.
Mr Alfanla, who has attended many conferences, seminars and symposiums, is also a member of many professional bodies including the Association of Nigerian Universities Professional Administrators (ANUPA), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), among others. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administrators of Nigeria (ICAN).
Despite his tight schedules, Mr Alfanla found time to serve as the Secretary, Ilorin Emirate Staff Association, University of Ilorin. He was also at a time the Secretary, University of Ilorin Muslim Community as he was the Imam, Senior Staff Quarters’ Mosque, Main Campus, Ilorin, between 2009 and 2021.
Until his new appointment, Mr Alfanla has been a member of the University’s Governing Council, representing the University Congregation.
Mr Alfanla is happily married and blessed with children.