LAUTECH: Governor Makinde releases N500m for Iseyin Campus take-off

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has approved the release of a grant of N500 million for the take-off of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources, Iseyin Campus of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.

This is as the governor disclosed that the institution is set to benefit from an intervention of the Federal Government to the tune of about N200 million, saying the capital expenditure for the development of infrastructure in LAUTECH has been captured in the state’s 2022 budget proposal.

Makinde made the series of disclosures during the turning of sod for the construction of the administrative building of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources, Iseyin Campus of LAUTECH, explaining that the multi-campus initiative for LAUTECH is to ensure economic development is spread across the geopolitical zones of the state.

Addressing the recent protest of LAUTECH students against the “no payment, no examination” policy of the institution, Makinde urged the students to understand that they need to contribute to the cost of running the institution.

He said with the government committing funds to build infrastructure, paying a debt to Osun State, cutting down tuition fees by 25 percent, effective the coming academic session, students needed to play their part by paying their tuition fees, urging the students to sit down with authorities of the university to resolve the impasse instead of protesting.

Makinde noted that the ultimate aim of his government is to ensure that Oyo State becomes the number one learning destination in Nigeria, saying he had directed the council and management of LAUTECH to begin the application for the conversion process of the university to a conventional university to facilitate the achievement of the desire.

He stated: “This is so that LAUTECH can offer other courses such as law and humanities. So, this is a win-win situation for all of us in Oyo State. You will agree with me that this kind of development comes with huge economic benefits to the people.

“I am sure the people of Ogbomoso can testify to how hosting LAUTECH has benefited them over the years.”

Giving his remarks, the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Council of the university, Professor Ayodeji Omole, disclosed that the Federal Government had approved and released allocation paper in respect of a 500 capacity auditorium with offices and classrooms for the Iseyin Campus.

He said the intervention was coming through the 2021 revitalisation of public universities under the NEEDS Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities Special Presidential Intervention Fund.

Omole also disclosed that notable individuals of Iseyin had pledged donations of infrastructure and facilities for the LAUTECH College.

The event was graced by top government functionaries; the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Salaudeen Adekunle, who led other traditional and community leaders; legal practitioner, Ahmed Raji; several personalities and indigenes of Iseyin, among others.

Nnenna.O