Oyo, Osun re-affirm joint ownership of LAUTECH

The governors of the two owner-states of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State have constituted a committee of technocrats to review the operations of the institution, vis-à-vis the laws establishing it.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III, in his palace, shortly after he (Ajimobi) and his Osun State counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola, met with principal officers of the institution on the way forward.
The governor said that the committee, headed by the former Head of Service of the Federation, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, was saddled with the responsibility of setting up a guideline that would be strictly in compliance with the law establishing the university.
This, he said, would ensure that nobody took undue advantage of the laws setting up the institution.
While re-affirming the joint ownership of the institution by the two owner-states, Ajimobi said that the states would continue to fund it and make the best out of the university, adding: “We will ensure that we spend all the necessary money there, so that LAUTECH can be a role model among its peers in Nigeria.”
Aregbesola also told the monarch that the crisis, which had almost torn the institution apart, was as a result of the thoughtlessness of the immediate past governments of Oyo and Osun States.
He, however, said that he and his Oyo State counterpart had decided to work together to uplift the institution and use it to project Ogbomoso, its host town, even beyond the shores of Nigeria.
Oba Ajagungbade, in his response, expressed happiness at the stand of the two governors, saying that the South West zone had always been noted for its commitment to educational development.
Earlier, after three hours of deliberations, Aregbesola had read out the communiqué at the Council Chamber of the institution, saying that the governors were worried by the incessant acrimony, which had been the bane of the university in the past.
He said that the meeting was held in the interest of the university, the students as well as the image of the governments of the two owner-states, stressing: “We are determined to ensure that LAUTECH remains the citadel of learning that will be second to none in Nigeria.”
The governor also said that everything necessary would be done to ensure that the institution became a model for regional collaboration in higher education.
He said that the College of Health Sciences would remain at Osogbo and that the two teaching hospitals in Ogbomoso and Osogbo would be recognized.
Aregbesola also stated that the Governing Council of the university would be constituted as soon as possible to direct the affairs of the institution.
At the meeting were the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Grade Laoye-Tomori, and some top government officials from the two states.