.LAUTECH alumni lauds Oyetola, Makinde
The Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has allayed the fear in some quarters that indigenes of Osun State working at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso would be fired following the full take over of the university by Oyo State.
The full take over of the university was announced on Friday by the National Universities Commission.
Governor Makinde during a live programme on FRESH 105.9 FM, Ibadan on Saturday, said despite the change in the ownership status of the university, it would be positioned to have global appeal.
The governor said, “When we came in we had to intervene and for this year 2020, Oyo State has been funding LAUTECH alone and we have appropriated enough money in the 2021 budget to continue doing this.
“Nothing is going to change. Of course, we have issues with how the university had been running in the past, we have to change it but it won’t matter where you come from. There won’t be Osun must go, it is a university, we have what it takes to put LAUTECH where it used to be nationally and also put it on the African and international ranking.
“I went to my brother, Gboyega Oyetola and I spoke to him to let us keep ego aside, I explained to him that it is a universality and it should be universal and he saw reasons with me and we give God the glory.
“It was a major point of disagreement between us then and we have been saying that higher education should be affordable. When we came I said instead of spending four or five years at LAUTECH they spend double that not because of their own fault but because of bad elements creating confusion between the two states. I spoke with my brother, university is universal. I spoke with my brother (Governor Oyetola) and he saw reason with me.
“Now, real work has start. We have to ensure it is well funded and it contributes to the economy of Ogbomoso and Oyo State. I will be going to Ogbomosho to meet with the stakeholders very soon, however, I want to plead with the lecturers that there is no Osun forum, no Oyo forum.”
On asset sharing, he said processes of distribution of assets of the institution was transparent, adding that it was valued and monitored by the National Universities Commission.
Meanwhile, the LAUTECH alumni has lauded Governor Makinde and his Osun State counterpart, Gboyega Oyetola, on the final resolution and transfer of ownership of the university to Oyo State.
A statement signed by the President, LAUTECH alumni, Onilede Solomon Limo, reads in part, “Governors Gboyega Oyetola and Seyi Makinde have displayed high level of maturity and spirit of sportsmanship worthy of emulation by all leaders despite political differences.”
