PanNigerianNews 
By Sunday Ogunkuade
Since his appointment as the acting Vice-Chancellor of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso in June 2023 by the governing council of LAUTECH and the renewal of his appointment for another six months in December 2023, Professor Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu has proved that the confidence reposed in him by the governing council and Oyo state government is not misplaced. While some people see public office as means of feathering their nests, that is not the case with Prof. Rom Kalilu, a renowned Professor of Art and Art History.
The saying goes that a man of success achieves his goals but a man of significance changed his world. If there are people who understand the difference between the two, Prof. Kalilu is at the forefront among them. From the feelers from the institution, Kalilu has succeeded in clearing the Augean stables and restored the institution back on the path of fiscal discipline and sanity, which years of inept leadership has denied her. He has equally facilitated uninterrupted academic calendar through zero tolerance for workers’ strike and students unrest, which his administrative policies have checked. Also, his administration needs to be commended for the prompt payment of workers’ salaries and other entitlements. Promotion of the workers as at when due is not left out. In addition, to pursuit his objective, Kalilu’s administration encourages and promote scholarship and conduct of research in all fields of learning and human endeavours. Also, the university has witnessed construction of buildings and expansion of faculties with the creation of social sciences, art and humanity courses in line with the effort of Oyo state government to alter the status of LAUTECH from strictly technical university to a regular university. Furthermore, Kalilu’s efforts to see that, Institute of African Studies took off early this year at LAUTECH needs to be commended. It is equally hearth warming that the crisis over the relocation of Agricultural Sciences to Iseyin in the Oke Ogun geo-political zone has been nipped in the bud. Moreso, as a listening Vice-Chancellor and unusual public administrator, Kalilu introduced an open door policy in the running of his administration. In that regards, twice in a week (Tuesday and Thursday) from 2:00 pm his office is always open for everybody and he will personally attends to issues from the students and the staffs. As a matter of fact, in most establishments, an open door policy indicates to workers that a boss is open to worker’s questions, complaints, suggestions, and challenges. The objective is to encourage open communication, feedback, and discussion about any concerns workers or students may have. Good enough, all the above pointed to the fact, the Ag. Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kalilu is out to restore the lost glory of LAUTECH. Moreover, to his credit, LAUTECH has again retained its number one position as the best state university in Nigeria for the past two years. The ranking was published by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings in its latest publication, January 2024. The Oyo State commissioner for information and civic orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, recalled that for eleven years, LAUTECH lost its past glory and was compromised for political gains but just recently, the fortunes of the university changed radically LAUTECH’s turnaround was further consolidated by the success of Governor Seyi Makinde to make Oyo State the sole owner of the institution and the efforts of the management of the institution.
Prof. Kalilu’s ascension to prominence was not a matter of coincidence; it was rather a product a clear vision, a sense of mission propelled by the keen passion to excel. In other words, here is a man who has internalized five d’s as the operational blueprint for making a difference. He is a man with a dream, who then develops a drive to achieve it. With single-minded determination, remarkable discipline, this three-in-one man (okunrin meta) sets out to achieve his goal with dedication.
To Prof. Kalilu, whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well and on time. This is why he is seen as a workaholic, a man who electrifies his surroundings with an inimitable sense of duty, a man of action and guts. As Dan Gable once said, “Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They are made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.” So, wherever Prof. Kalilu finds himself, whether in the classroom or podium as a lecturer, or as an administrator, or in several other capacities he has functioned or still functions, he is renowned for being extra-ordinary and first class.
A talented scholar and cerebral intellectual, Prof. Kalilu is an academic genius and administrative guru, who dominates his world with well-reasoned arguments and visionary ideas. A shrewd judge of men and matters, this man who accepts no half measures smashes reputations and sets records with his sterling qualities and impeccable credentials. A man of unconquerable will and a restless questing spirit. Prof. Kalilu is the proverbial goldfish that has no hiding place. With a Spartan commitment to duty, easy and amiable mien, he has remained a raving phenomenon to friends and foes alike with his honesty, simplicity, humility, loyalty, generosity and single-minded belief in service to Allah and humanity.
Kalilu joined the services of LAUTECH on September 1, 1992 and was pronounced a Professor of Arts and Arts History in the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Faculty of Environmental Sciences on October 1, 1999. He is an alumnus of the prestigious University of Ife and the University of Ibadan, is a polymath and specialist in Form and Material Technology. In addition to his expertise in Painting, Digital, and Electronic Art, Kalilu boasts an extensive career spanning advertising, primary, secondary, college of education, and polytechnic education systems prior to joining LAUTECH.
Kalilu’s contribution to scholarship and art practice is substantial, with many groundbreaking achievements to his name. His pioneering work includes developing Nigeria’s first B.Tech degree programme in Fine and Applied Arts in 1992, and the country’s first curricula for postgraduate diploma and Master and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in studio. He also pioneered the inclusion of Digital Art in tertiary education curriculum in Nigeria and originated Form and Material Technology in Fine Art.
Notably, Professor Kalilu has a record of training Nigeria’s first hearing-impaired Art Historian (2004), producing Nigeria’s first M.Tech degrees in Drawing (2011) and Communication Design (2015), and Nigeria’s first PhDs in Environmental and Industrial Sculpture (2012) and Ceramics and Glass (2015). He even produced the global first PhD in Form and Material Technology in Fine Art (2014), and Nigeria’s first Military Artist with a Ph.D. degree (2017).
Far from being an academic alone, Kalilu is also an experienced administrator. He has held various positions, including Vice President of Fine Arts Students Association; Branch and Zonal Chairman of SSATHURAI; Head of Department; Dean of Faculty; Chairman, Committee of Deans; Chairman, Committee of Deans and Provosts; and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of LAUTECH.
In recognition of his accomplishments, Professor Kalilu is one of the few scholars consistently invited to participate in the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education University Rankings for the past seven years.
Professor Rom Kalilu’s achievements have earned him several international awards, including the Gold Medal in the 1978-1979 All-Africa Painting Contest, the National Arts Wizard Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Art History in 1997, and the Outstanding People of the 20th Century Outstanding Achievement Medal in 2000. He is a Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Artists and a member of the International Association of Astronomical Artists.
However, with his current post, which poised to leverage his vast experience and achievements to foster growth and continue its tradition of excellence. The university community is enthusiastic about the insights and leadership that Prof. Kalilu will bring to the table. His appointment as acting Vice-Chancellor marks a promising new chapter in the story of this esteemed institution. Expectedly! Since, he became the Ag. VC, the appointment that generated a lot of positive reactions in and outside the academic community. Because, Kalilu’s appointment should be likened to fitting a round peg to a round hole. And if he eventually confirm as a substantive Vice-Chancellor of LAUTECH he will definitely perform wonderfully.
…Ogunkuade, historian and writer 08036142877, writes from Ogbomoso.
