The Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola has said his government is not ready to cede Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso to her counterpart owner, Oyo State.
He said his administration is committed to the joint ownership and would not relent in its efforts to promote and support things that would strengthen the bond of the joint ownership of the university by Osun and Oyo States.
He promised more support to the university to maintain its standard, saying that his government remained resolute to meet up with its responsibility as stipulated by the law on the joint ownership of the university to make the institution a great citadel of knowledge.
Oyetola described the university as a “fortune” to the citizens of Oyo and Osun States but decried what he described as the “lopsided pace of infrastructure development” of the university with a large concentration of facilities at the headquarters in Ogbomoso.
“We have always been committed to LAUTECH. We have always regarded the institution as a joint asset of Oyo and Osun states and we are committed to the ownership structure.
“As we are committed to ensure equitable distribution of resources, so also that our administration will continue to support the university to maintain its standard and make it the best citadel of knowledge not only in Nigeria but in Africa.
“Though the bulk of the infrastructure of the university is located at the headquarters (Ogbomoso) as seven and half faculties of the university are located in Ogbomoso while only one faculty is located in Osogbo.”
“We are looking up for more infrastructure development that will speak volume of the reality of joint ownership.”
“We remain equal partners as affirmed by the Supreme Court judgment which affirms the joint ownership of the institution,” Oyetola said.
Earlier in his remark, the Vice Chancellor of LAUTECH, Professor Ologunde commended the administration of Oyetola
for prioritizing education, just as he lauded the state government for being supportive of the developments of the university.
