Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has assented the bill passed recently by the state House of Assembly, seeking to upgrade the Osun State College of Education, Ilesa to a full-fleged University.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ismail Omipidan, on Wednesday noted that Oyetola, while speaking after signing the bill, said the proposed university has been carefully conceived as a thoroughly entrepreneurial and innovative institution.
Oyetola also said the institution would be funded through mix of sources such as the government, community, industry, and other stakeholders without exerting unnecessary pressure on the finances of the state.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Mr. Timothy Owoeye, while receiving the copies of the University Establishment Law from the governor after his assent said the signing the bill was a good development for Ijesa land in particular and Osun state in general.
He said, “This is a huge development for Ijesa people and Osun state. This is what we have been clamouring for, for over 40 years. As a matter of fact, the College which was established in 1979 is more than 40 years now, and thinking to upgrade it to a full-fledged University is a welcome development.”
The Chairman, Implementation Committee of the proposed University, Prof. Olu Aina, while speaking at the event, said Oyetola’s decision to upgrade the university was a sign of his love for education.
He further said, “The work is not yet completed . What we had today is the enablement for us to continue to conclude the work of implementation. I can see three major stages ahead of us.
“First, the constitution of Governing Council and appointment of Principal Officers of the University, and secondly we will start work and, begin to recruit staff and finally we will open up the classrooms for academic activities.”
