From Bola Ogunlayi, Ibadan
Oyo State Chief helmsman, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has said that the success of the newly established Technical University, Ibadan was anchored upon stakeholders’ contributions and subscriptions by lovers of education as well as Public-Private Partnership.
The Governor said this at the official commissioning and handover of the Central Bank of Nigerian intervention projects at the State-owned TechU which consisted of a Central e-Library space for 500 students, 10 offices, 12 units of toilet facilities as well as a block of 24 lecture rooms which has 11 Administrative offices, furniture, borehole, a 500KVA Generating set, street lights, CCTV cameras, air conditioners and additional toilets facilities for male and female students.
According to him, his administration’s desire for a world-class Technical University was in the tradition of innovation and excellence pioneered by forebears of the State.
“The university is founded on the principle of unique innovation, research collaboration, exceptional service and excellence”, Senator Ajimobi disclosed.
“We are indeed very happy that the apex bank has gone beyond its statutory fiscal and financial responsibilities to support this critical investment and the future of our state and country. We are not unmindful of the challenges of financing tertiary institutions by government in Nigeria today due to the current economic reality.
“We have taken numerous financial initiatives to fund tertiary education in the State, it has been challenging ensuring the self-sustainability of the institutions and in order to avert this unpleasant experience, The Technical University, Ibadan is conceived as a public-private initiative where self-sufficiency through partnership, subscriptions and stakeholder contributions, locally and internationally shall be entrenched.
“TechU is therefore an initiative of the Oyo State government of Nigeria to continue in the tradition of innovation and excellence pioneered by our pathfinders. It is founded on the principle of unique innovation, research collaboration, exceptional service, integrity, excellence and uplifting of the human condition, knowledge, skill, classroom/industry and theory/practical.
“We are therefore committed to the efficient and responsible use of science, technology, engineering, innovation in solving societal problems,” he said.
He assured that the University would have the best hands in its management team as well as academic handlers.
The Governor pointed out that the mission of the present administration in the State is to cultivate a cadre of technical professionals, with requisite entrepreneurial skills, capable of creating businesses that would provide employment for the youths.
He assured that TechU would produce exceptional graduates who are not only socially conscious but technically competent enough to turn around the fortunes of the State, noting that the institution is committed to offering degree programs of international standard through collaboration with relevant global institutions.
The Governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, who was represented by a Deputy, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu at the event commended the State government for its vision in transforming education in the State.
He said it was against the backdrop of the need to bridge the manpower and infrastructural deficits that had accumulated overtime that the Central Bank of Nigeria started its education intervention programs throughout the country.
Adelabu said the monetary institution recognized Oyo State as the socio – political and intellectual headquarters of the Southwest region as well as its past roles in economic integration of the Southwest of Nigeria.
“Having recognized Ibadan and Oyo State in general as a sociopolitical and educational headquarters of the Southwest region, given its past role in the Southwest regional development and potential role it can still play in the general economic integration of the region.
“There is no gainsaying the fact education is the bedrock for development and lifting people out of poverty, Nigeria is experiencing an acute shortage of high quality and world class educational institutions, our primary mandate at the Central Bank of Nigeria apart from fiscal policy is to intervene regularly in the critical sectors of the economy of which education is one, to bridge manpower and infrastructural deficits accumulated overtime,” Adelabu stated.
The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, in his welcome address, said that the unique idea behind the Technical University was to produce graduates who could turn theory to practice in order to create jobs.
Olowofela said Tech-U was formally recognized by the National Universities Commission (NUC) on 7th December 2012 as the 30th State-owned University in Nigeria with the information that the University would provide succour for parents who sent their wards abroad for higher education.
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Olubadan-in-council who represented the Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji (Aje Oguguluso 1), Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oladapo, Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba (Dr) Abdulganiy Adekunle Oloogunebi (Ajinese 1), Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola all praised the ingenuity of the State administration towards revamping education and positioning the Technical University.