Oyo Governor urges Government to partner with Academia to solve problems

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has urged governments at all levels, industries and the academia to collaborate for Nigeria to solve some of its problems.

Governor Makinde stated this while receiving a delegation from the University of Lagos, Akoka, led by its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Toyin Ogundipe, at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan on Friday.

Govt, the academic must collaborate to solve Nigeria’s problems- Makinde

…hosts UNILAG VC, others, promises to back varsity for NUGA games

*You are a worthy alumnus, VC tells Makinde#Oyostate Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, stated on Friday that for the country to solve some pic.twitter.com/J3ZfhON4Ud

— Oyo State Govt (@oyostategovt) April 16, 2021

He called for an improvement in the relationship between the town and gown, asking the two to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship.

The Governor stated that Oyo State would explore the opportunity of having a Memorandum of Understanding with UNILAG on how to address some of the challenges facing the state.

Expressing readiness to work with the UNILAG Consult, given its pedigree and antecedents, the Governor reminisced on how he used to run on the concrete road in UNILAG.

He said his administration tried to introduce the innovation in Oyo with the ongoing 12 kilometre Apete-Awotan Road, which is being constructed with concrete.

Extending MoU
According to him, though the state already has an MoU and cordial relationship with the University of Ibadan and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), he would readily expand the MOU to include UNILAG.

He said: “I want to take this opportunity to let you know that we followed the crisis that engulfed UNILAG recently, and we are happy that things have been resolved and you are getting back into the real business of why the university was created, and you are fulfilling your mandate as a university.”

Governor Makinde disclosed that ”his history of collaborating with UNILAG dates back to his days as an industry player, when he ran a programme with AGIP and Italians successfully carried out a needed experiment at the Machines Laboratory in the school. The collaboration birthed the Automation Laboratory and many young engineers from schools.”

Responding to the institution’s request for support towards the hosting of the Nigeria Universities Games Association (NUGA) events later in the year, the Governor assured the University that the state would support it and he would also make his contribution as a private citizen.

Reducing unemployment
The UNILAG’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ogundipe, described Governor Makinde as ‘a worthy and distinguished alumnus.

Professor Ogundipe expressed the readiness of the institution to partner with Oyo State on how to reduce unemployment and promote entrepreneurship.

He said: “We will be ready to partner with you on the issue of unemployment that we have now.

“We are collaborating with some local governments in that area but for Oyo State, what we can do right now is to send some of our colleagues to come and train them in different areas of interest for the SMEs and the rest. So, we look forward to having your support in that area.”

Other members of the delegation include; the newly-appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development Services), Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa, and the University’s Registrar, Mr Oladejo Azeez.

Mercy Chukwudiebere