VC seeks global partnership to fight cyber insecurity

Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, has called for concerted global efforts to fight the menace of cyber insecurity.

Ambali told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ilorin that he was worried about the upsurge in web-hacking by unscrupulous elements in the global society.

He said that the recent allegation by the United States Government that Russia interfered with its 2016 presidential election was a testimony that no nation or institution was immune to cyber-crimes.

The vice-chancellor explained that the recent hacking of the University of Ilorin website was a major challenge that the university management had successfully tackled.

Ambali said that the university management employed the service of an expert IT company that immediately swung into action to rectify the anomaly and secure the institution’s website.

“The incident delayed the programme of the institution and made the students to go through some stress, but all data are still intact, students and staff have no cause to worry,” he said.

While commenting on the expectations of the university community in the year 2017, Ambali said that 2016 was a prosperous year for the university because about 20 projects were commissioned.

He said many members of the institution’s staff won research grants while a host of others benefitted from staff development programmes nationally and internationally.

“The year 2017 will be more rewarding as more projects will be executed, staff training will be improved upon and welfare package for staff and students will remain top priorities.”

Ambali also commented on the recent petition accusing him and his immediate predecessor, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, of wrong doing, describing it as a disgrace to the authors.

“The recent petition submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against me and Prof. Is-haq Oloyede is a disgrace to the authors who call themselves officers of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).”

Ambali warned that the university of Ilorin would not compromise its good name.

“The management of this institution has succeeded in setting its priorities right and that is why the institution remains the most sought-after university in Nigeria for three consecutive years.”

The vice-chancellor reaffirmed the position of the university of Ilorin to continue to associate with the institution’s ASUU, which he described as “an icon of constructive unionism”.