Some members of Oyo State House of Assembly visited the Management of the University of Ibadan, UI on Wednesda with a view to finding lasting solutions to the unpalatable and continued crisis rocking the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, and other State-owned tertiary institutions.
While addressing the UI Management Team, Speaker of the House, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin, noted that the Oyo State government is proud of the impact the Premier University is making on educational growth, research, discoveries and economic development in Nigeria and the world at large.
Describing UI as the Mother of all universities in Nigeria, Ogundoyin said, “We are proud to have UI in Oyo State. We are proud of its contributions to the development of the State and the nation.”
“We know the institution is owned and run by the Federal government but we are your host because UI is built on the pacesetter soil, and we are here to seek your assistance on some of the problems our schools are facing because we know UI has the personnel and human resources that can liberate these schools,” he affirmed.
While complaining on the difficulties students of the Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa are facing over unaccredited courses, Ogundoyin said the Polytechnic currently needs speedy accreditation of courses to restore its integrity and save the students who are stranded.
He disclosed that the students of the Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa and LAUTECH are victims of several unfortunate academic setbacks, expressing the hope that the reported meeting held between Oyo and Osun Governors in Abuja had a helpful conclusion.
Ogundoyin declared that, “The Oyo and Osun State Assembly have also set up committees on LAUTECH to meet, but we still have a strong belief that the University of Ibadan Management can be helpful in resolving the challenges our State institutions are going through by giving physical efforts, consultations and advisory supports.”
“If UI gives logical support to other tertiary institutions in the State, definitely it will reduce the pressure of the number of candidates seeking admission into UI,” he added.
In his words, while receiving the Oyo lawmakers on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, DVC, Administrative, Professor Kayode Adebowale, noted that UI would always be open towards a continuous friendship and relationship in all areas, as it concerns the development of Oyo State.
Lamenting the position of Oyo among other states of the nation during the recent Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results, Adebowale explained that the State educational sector needs help, charging the lawmakers to do the needful in their lawmaking and policies formation responsibility.
According to him, “UI will be willing to assist the State on the issue of unaccredited courses in Oyo polytechnics by the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, and other educational interventions the State needs from the institution.”
Adebowale suggested that, “A committee can be set up, the State can involve us, we work out synergy to assist the State on how to best address the issue and get courses accredited.”
He recalled that a storm had affected the N88million worth physical infrastructure of the University of Ibadan on March 9, 2019 and Governor Seyi Makinde, then as Governor-Elect, donated N25million from his personal purse.
The DVC said, “The Olubadan-in-Council leased this land to the Institute for 99 years and now we have lived 71 years as a school. We will definitely renew when the School out lives the lease agreement. Therefore there is no way UI can be taken away from Oyo State.”
