LAUTECH: Why Osun Ceded University To Oyo –Oyetola

• Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola has explains why Osun opted out of joint ownership.

EkohotBlog reports that the Governor; Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun has explained reasons the state opted out of the joint ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.

Oyetola disclosed the reasons in Abuja while answering questions at NAN Forum, a special interview programme of the News Agency of Nigeria, monitored by our reporter.

He revealed that the decision was made after weighing available options; and discovered that it was more profitable to invest in its own new university than continue with the joint ownership with Oyo State.

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Oyetola also mentioned the huge financial commitment of Osun State and other key factors as what influenced the decision.

Recall that the institution was founded as Oyo State University of Technology in April 1990 was jointly owned by Osun and Oyo States after the creation of the former on Aug. 27, 1991.

EkohotBlog reports further that the National Universities Commission (NUC) on Nov. 20, 2020, announced the end of the joint ownership with the university ceded to Oyo State, while the College of Health Technology was transferred to Osun.

Giving insight into decision, the governor’s statement reads, “ Even in marriage there is room for divorce, so you weigh your options.

“Don’t forget that we inherited LAUTECH because it was established at the time Osun was part of Oyo State.

”It was never a question of two states sitting down together saying we want to establish a university, no, we inherited it.

“At the time, they could not have broken it into two and say Osun take this, Oyo take that.

”Sometimes when you have different political parties being in charge of different states, there are always issues surrounding policies and related matters.

“LAUTECH had been in crisis over the years, as far back as when Gov. (Olagunsoye) Oyinlola was in office with (Adebayo) Alao-Akala.

“But I realised that the relationship was becoming a burden to Osun in the sense that we have our own university, which is Osun State University.

”I had to be compelled to pay salaries of lecturers in LAUTECH, and even those of the teaching university located in Osogbo.

“Again, if you look at the issue of equitable distribution of the faculties, it was lopsided. Not less than nine were sited in Ogbomoso, for instance. We had only the School of Health in Osogbo.

“That doesn’t reflect truly the issue of joint ownership.

”So, lopsidedness in that area became an issue. And for me to be giving out about N700 million or thereabout per month to take care of our commitment to LAUTECH and the teaching hospital, I think it was burdensome.

“I have the Osun State University to think about, at some point there was this issue of states not meeting their financial obligations.

”That puts so much pressure on our government, making it look as if we were the one not aligning or not making the university develop.

“The best thing was to look at the whole thing again and mutually agree.

“We didn’t do it on a partisan basis, we looked at it from the angle of Governor Seyi Makinde too as a private sector person. We looked at it and minimised our losses and moved on.

“It is in the interest of the students and the management of the university that it should have just one parent than two parents who may not be compatible sometimes and create unnecessary problems every time.” EkohotBlog reports.