The National Universities Commission in Nigeria has presented a Letter of Recognition for the official take off of University of Ilesa, Osun State.
The presentation leads to the successful completion of the formal documentary process into the establishment of the University.
By the recognition, the University becomes the 60th State University and the 220th University in Nigeria.
Reacting to the development, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola reiterated government’s commitment to ensure that the establishment of the university will not in any way put unnecessary financial burden on the State.
“The proposed university has been carefully conceived as a thoroughly entrepreneurial and innovative institution that would be funded through a mix of sources such as the government, community, industry and other stakeholders without exerting unnecessary pressure on the finances of the State”, Oyetola said.
The letter conveying the recognition was personally received by the governor from the NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed.
Rasheed lauded the governor for the initiative, noting that the establishment of the university remains one of the legacies of Oyetola and that the governor established the university in the “right place, with the right people. And I am sure the people of Ilesa will not allow it to go under”, he said.
Receiving the Letter of Recognition at the NUC Secretariat, Abuja, Governor Oyetola said the event has further laid credence to his commitment to upgrading the 44-year old College of Education to a University.
Oyetola who described education as the bedrock of socio-economic and political development, said the establishment of the University will go a long way to address the deficit university education, in the state and beyond.
He said the university will further help to train and equip a diverse group of youths with professional skills, entrepreneurial ability and innovative insights, especially in agri-business, mining and health.
“The establishment of the University of Ilesa is necessitated by the massive gap between qualified candidates and available space in the existing higher institutions within the State, as education remains the primary industry in Osun. The yearning is considerably insatiable and as responsible leaders; we cannot ignore these needs.
“Our commitment is to contribute to developing the human resources needed to drive growth in Osun and Nigeria. Higher education worldwide is a veritable driver of human development, innovation, technological advancement and resource exploration”
Oyetola said the University shall focus on Agriculture and Agri-business to address food insecurity; mining technology to build on the abundant gold deposit in Ijesaland; and Medical Sciences to enhance the human resource need in the health sector.
“We are very deliberate in our approach as we seek to contribute to the diversification of our economy and wean it away from over reliance on oil.
“In anticipation of the takeoff, we have identified credible candidates for the Governing Council and Principal Officers, ready to be appointed and hit the ground running”.
He said the College of Education facilities are more than sufficient to conveniently accommodate the University in the first phase of its development, saying that government has adequate provisions for the students of the College of Education to complete and better their careers.
Among those present at the brief ceremony were former Osun state Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, Emeritus Prof. Olu Aina, Speaker of Osun House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye, Chief of Staff to Osun Governor, Dr. Charles Akinola and former Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole among others.
