Baton changes at UPSA as Prof. Alabi retires
Last December was indeed an emotional and memorable moment for staff and students of the University of Professional Studies, Accra(UPSA) formerly known as the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS), Legon.
Advertisement
It was a special thanksgiving service on behalf of Professor Joshua Alabi, the Outgoing (first) Vice Chancellor of the university.
Before the special thanksgiving service on Friday, the Students Representative Council (SRC) and other student groups had organised events to show their love to the out-going Vice Chancellor.
Guest of Honour
Venerable Dr. George Neequaye, Archdeacon of Accra North East Archdeaconry of the Anglican Church, was the guest preacher.
It became clear to me at the ceremony that staff and students of UPSA were very proud of the achievements during Professor Alabi’s tenure and were also proud to be students and staff of the university.
Professor Alabi expressed how amazed he was by the love shown him by students he had put “pressure” on to pay school fees and for the staff who he had “screamed” at to make sure everything was perfectly done so as to meet the university’s goals.
But in all these, students and staff of UPSA have helped in what we can now call a global university.Both new and old students of IPS/UPSA would attest to the fact that the university has not just grown but is living to its vision: “To be the world-class education provider in both academic and professional discipline, nationally entrenched, regionally relevant and globally recognised”
For many doubting Thomases, I believe that a visit to the university would not be a bad idea at all.
Visionary leadership
Professor Alabi can be described as humble, affable, a team player, a visionary team leader, and a listening, fair but firm and emphatic leader. His sterling leadership qualities are not limited to academia, but spans across politics and sports administration.
Even as a student, Prof. Alabi was an Ambassador for Ghanaian students’ in Europe, holding the positions of NUGS Europe President from 1985 to 1986 and NUGS USSR President for two consecutive terms, that is, from 1983 to 1985.
With over 25 years of professional practice, Prof. Alabi has held a number of international, national, institutional and administrative positions.
Profile of Prof. Alabi
Prof. Joshua Alabi is an economist by training and a marketer by profession born on March 1, 1958. He obtained an MSc in Industrial Economics from Moscow Institute of National Economy Now Russian University of Economics (Plekhanov) in 1986 and an MSc. in International Marketing from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland in 1992, where he was awarded the Moshood Abiola Prize in International Marketing.
Prof. Alabi rose through the ranks as Lecturer, founding Head of the Marketing Department of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (all of them spanning from 1987 to 2003), Dean of Faculty of Management Studies (2003 to 2005), Pro-Rector (2005 to April 2008), and acting Rector (April 2008 to December 2008). He became the substantive Rector from January 2009 to September 2012. He also chaired several committees at the university level.
He later became the first Vice-Chancellor of the university from September 2012 to December 31, 2016.
Recognition
Prof. Alabi’s contribution to national development, education and the transformation of UPSA has been recognised and celebrated by many.
On October 29, 2016, the President the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, awarded Prof. Alabi the “Officer of the Order of the Volta” a national award recognising his contributions to the transformation of UPSA and other national contributions.
In July 2015, Prof. Alabi received another award from the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB) in recognition of his contributions towards transforming the former Institute of Professional Studies to a fully fledged university, and for his excellent performance on the financial landscape.
The All-Africa Students Union celebrated him as the Africa Vice-Chancellor of the year for 2013.
In 2012, IMANI Ghana, a policy and accountability think tank, also recognising his contributions to the phenomenal change of the University of Professional Studies, Accra, named him the Most Influential Public Sector Leader for the year 2012.
At the national level, Prof. Alabi has held chairmanship for the Board of Trustees of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT); the Board of Directors - HFC Bank in Ghana; Ghana Book Development Council; Governing Council of Accra Polytechnic and member of Ghana National Commission for UNESCO as well as Chairman of the Social Science Committee of UNESCO Commission of Ghana, from May 2009 to 2014; and member of the Governing Council of University of Professional Studies, from 2001 to December 31, 2016.
In politics Professor Alabi was Member of Parliament for the Krowor Constituency in the Greater Accra Region from 1997 to 2001; Minister of State for the Greater Accra and Northern regions between 1997 and 2001; chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Greater Accra Region from 2001 to 2005; member of the Business Committee of Parliament (1997-2001); member of the Parliamentary select Committee on Food and Agriculture (1997-2001); chairman of the Regional Security Council for the Greater Accra and Northern regions (1997-2001)
At the International level, Prof. Alabi was a member of the Group of Experts of the Executive Board of UNESCO (Paris) in September 2011; member of the Executive Committee and Chairs the West Africa Region of the International Association of University Presidents, from June 2011 to date.
In the field of sports, Prof. Alabi has handled the following portfolios:General Secretary, Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) from March 1994 to April 1997; member, Ghana Football Association’s Management Board (GFA) from 1994 to 1997; coordinator, Ghana Black Stars Management Committee, from August 1994 to April 1997.
Additionally, Prof. Alabi has managed countless number of international and national projects successfully and is the Founder and current Board Chairman of the Consumer Advocacy Centre (CAC), Ghana, an Affiliate member of Consumers International (Cl); and a Member of the Federation of Consumer Organisation (FCO) in 115 countries.
He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG) and a fellow of the Ghana Institute of Taxation.
Another interesting thing about Professor Joshua Alabi is that he is a team player who works well with everybody.
Supportive wife
Professor Mrs Goski Alabi can be described as a supportive wife who has been with Professor Joshua Alabi through thick and thin to make UPSA what it is today.
According to Professor Joshua Alabi, Professor Goski suffered a lot of humiliation because of him; “She was attacked and called all sorts of names because of me…,” Professor Alabi added during the special thanksgiving service.
Prrof. Goski was duly acknowledged and praised by Professor Joshua Alabi at the special thanksgiving service.
She is very humble and down to earth. She is simple, affable, hard working and respects everyone no matter their social status. She is a good listener and team player. But she can make you work, work and work. She is indeed a role model and mentor.
Conclusion
I believe the good Lord has used this great, kind and visionary man to achieve a lot for Ghana, Africa and the world.
This is because one cannot catalogue enough, all he has done, in terms of physical infrastructure, vast improvement in UPSA’s enrolment, the expansion and modernisation of the university to keep pace with the needs of a 21st century university, staff capacity building and the development of sound academic programmes at the institution.
He was always at his desk thinking of how to make UPSA great.
Students, both past and present, stakeholders and lovers of UPSA can only pray for him and his family for God’s guidance, and for God to grant him higher positions of responsibility to prove further his God-given talent as a seasoned administrator and academician.
