Reported by Busari Abiodun, General Secretary, ASLTON University of Ibadan Branch
On Tuesday, 22 September 2026, the Executive Council of the Association of Science Laboratory Technologists of Nigeria (ASLTON), University of Ibadan Branch, paid an official courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, FAS, mni. The visit afforded the Branch an opportunity to formally express its profound appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor and the University Management for their continued support of ASLTON and of the Science Laboratory Technology profession within the institution.
Leading the delegation, the ASLTON UI Branch Chairperson, Dr. Elizabeth O. Joel, spoke on behalf of the Association, extending sincere appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor and University Management for their encouragement of ASLTON’s activities over the years. She highlighted the importance of the cordial relationship that has long existed between the Association and University Management, and commended the University’s support for ASLTON’s professional programmes and conferences. Dr. Joel also acknowledged the University’s efforts towards strengthening the B.Sc. and Master’s degree programmes in Science Laboratory Technology, describing them as central to producing well-trained, professionally competent technologists capable of contributing meaningfully to teaching, research, innovation, and laboratory services. She closed her remarks by reaffirming the Association’s commitment to a constructive relationship with the University, one that supports both the growth of the profession and the advancement of the institution.
In his response, the Vice-Chancellor warmly received the delegation and commended the harmonious relationship that has consistently existed between ASLTON and University Management, describing it as one marked by mutual respect, constructive engagement, and smooth collaboration. He encouraged the Association to sustain this positive posture and to continue contributing meaningfully to the University’s advancement.
Drawing on the University’s history, Professor Adebowale recalled the former Laboratory Technical Training Scheme (LTTS), noting its significant contributions to the training of laboratory personnel across the country. He observed, however, that industrial actions and union-related disruptions in the past, including the blockage of the University’s admission office, had contributed to circumstances that eventually led to the truncation of the programme. Against this backdrop, he urged the present ASLTON leadership, its members, and students to protect and nurture the newly established B.Sc. and Master’s programmes in Science Laboratory Technology, stressing the importance of safeguarding their sustainability for future generations.
The Vice-Chancellor went further to emphasize the strategic importance of technologists to the University system, firmly dispelling any notion that the profession is inferior. He noted that technologists play a critical role in scientific research, technical innovation, laboratory operations, and the successful execution of research projects. He explained that the establishment of the SLT degree programmes at the University of Ibadan was, in part, a deliberate response to the shortage of adequately trained and qualified technologists in Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor also reflected more broadly on leadership, institutional continuity, and the responsibility of leaders to strengthen institutions for the benefit of future generations. In his words: “The University of Ibadan is an ongoing project. Somebody asked me what my legacy is; I said I don’t have a personal legacy, my job is to sustain the existing legacy and raise the bar. And that is my legacy.” This statement, he explained, captured his emphasis on institutional development and collective responsibility over personal recognition. He further highlighted the University’s strong standing in national, regional, and continental rankings, noting that under his administration the institution has maintained its position as number one in Nigeria, number one in West Africa, and fourth in Africa, and expressed optimism that, with a strong foundation and effective leadership succession, the University would continue to aspire towards the number-one position in Africa.
The courtesy visit offered several important points of reflection for the ASLTON UI Branch. Chief among these was the reaffirmation of a cordial and constructive relationship between the Association and University Management, one built on mutual respect and sustained engagement over the years. Equally significant was the shared responsibility now placed on ASLTON’s leadership, members, and students to protect and sustain the newly established B.Sc. and Master’s programmes in Science Laboratory Technology, ensuring that these gains are not lost to future generations as the earlier LTTS programme once was. The visit also underscored the strategic role technologists play within the University system, particularly in teaching, research, innovation, and laboratory operations, a role the Vice-Chancellor was keen to elevate rather than diminish. Beyond the professional and institutional dimensions, the exchange reinforced the value of professionalism and mutual respect in advancing the interests of both the Association and the University. Finally, Professor Adebowale’s reflections on leadership left a lasting impression: that the responsibility of those in positions of authority is to sustain and strengthen existing institutional legacies, rather than to pursue personal recognition.
The ASLTON UI Branch Executive sincerely appreciates the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, FAS, mni, and the entire University Management, for the warm reception accorded the delegation and for their continued support for ASLTON and the Science Laboratory Technology profession. The Branch particularly appreciated the Vice-Chancellor’s encouraging remarks on the dignity, relevance, and central place of technologists within the University system, and welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with him and reaffirm its commitment to a cordial, professional relationship with University Management. ASLTON UI Branch remains committed to contributing positively to the advancement of laboratory science, scientific research, professional development, and quality education within the University of Ibadan.
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