The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, announced that the state will commence the process to make the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, a conventional university.
The Governor made this disclosure to newsmen while receiving a report of the Oyo State negotiating committee on the institution.
Makinde stated that the government will move the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences of the institution to Iseyin town in Oke Ogun geo-political zone of the state.
He added that the state would apply to necessary authorities to change the university from a technology university to a conventional university, this would strengthen and enable the institution to handle other courses outside the technology bracket.
Makinde said the Committee, led by Professor Ayodeji Omole, was assigned the responsibility of dissolving the joint ownership of LAUTECH between Oyo and Osun states about fifteen months ago, stating that members of the committee have fulfilled their mandate.
“You will recall that I promised that we will announce the creation of a higher institution of learning in Iseyin. A decision has been taken and that decision is that the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences will open its campus in Iseyin this year.
“When we inaugurated this committee on November 27, 2019, we were barely six months in office.
“We gave the members a clear mandate: to secure a divorce from Osun State in a manner of speaking and get Oyo State sole ownership of LAUTECH. Today, I am happy to officially receive your report. I see that you have returned as brave warriors, having fulfilled your mandate.
“On behalf of myself, the Oyo State Executive Council, the staff and students of LAUTECH, the people of Ogbomoso in particular, and the good people of Oyo State as a whole, we say thank you for getting the job done.”
The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, runs three academic programmes: pre-degree science programme, undergraduate programmes, and post-graduate programmes. The university is jointly owned by two states in Nigeria: Oyo and Osun states.
The university has been adjudged by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) as the best state university in Nigeria. The university has two campuses: Ogbomosho and Osogbo campuses and is currently made up of six faculties and a college.
