On Thursday, Governor Seyi Makinde of the State of Oyo expressed his willingness to transform LAUTECH from a university of technology to a traditional university in order to offer courses such as law.
Makinde, who made this known while receiving a report from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) State Negotiating Committee, Ogbomosho, Ibadan, said that the State would soon send a request for approval of the conversion to the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The governor also declared that he had signed into law the LAUTECH Bill 2020, “so it is now time for our plan to move forward.”
Makinde added that, to represent the new ownership, a governing council will soon be named to the institution; said that in a few weeks time, the council would birth new management.
He expressed gratitude to the committee for “a job well done,” saying that the task was given to the committee to secure LAUTECH for Oyo State as the sole owner when it was inaugurated on Nov. 27, 2019.
He said that LAUTECH’s sole ownership would not have a negative effect on Osun’s students and employees of the college, but that sole ownership would be done in order to promote administration and drive LAUTECH towards the goal of becoming a world-class university.
Makinde used the opportunity to show gratitude to Osun state Gov. Gboyega Oyetola, for “all through the negotiations” putting aside all differences, especially partisan politics.
“We appreciate him (Oyetola) for applying wisdom in taking a stand, for what is best for staff and students of LAUTECH.”
The Governor also thanked Prof. Olu Aina, who led the Osun State negotiations, and further commended the NUC’s Dr. Suleiman Yusuf’s versatility in the midwifing of the negotiations.
The Governor also used the opportunity to announce the establishment, in Iseyin, of a College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.
He cautioned citizens against allowing any person or group to distract them from the economic progress made so far by his administration.
Earlier, Prof. Ayodeji Omole said that “engaging, energy-sapping, time and money consuming and interesting” was the method of negotiating LAUTECH’s sole ownership.
Omole advised the governor not to allow the committee’s report to be deposited in the archives, without thoroughly and religiously implementing the recommendations.
“This is the surest way to achieve your dream of returning LAUTECH to its old glory and restoring the institution back to being a University of the first choice,” he said.
On behalf of the other members of the committee, he thanked the governor for the opportunity and the help given to them to serve.
Highlights of the occasion were the presentation of the Governor’s appreciation award to Omole and other committee members.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
