The lingering crisis arising from the joint ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso, Oyo state, has been resolved.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja Friday, the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the governors of Oyo and Osun states, “shows that the main university campus at Ogbomoso has now become the property of Oyo state government, while the teaching hospital at Osogbo, has been taken over by Osun state government.”
He said: “The National Universities Commission wishes to commend and express its profound gratitude to the executive governors of Osun state, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, and His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, for their exemplary statesmanship, leadership and tremendous sacrifice by putting the interest of LAUTECH and its over 30, 000 students above political and other considerations….
“NUC stands ready to work with all stakeholders to ensure the full and faithful implementation of the terms of the agreement in all its ramifications, and we shall play our part in ensuring that LAUTECH gets back on track in a harmonious milieu conducive to the discharge of its tripodal mandates of teaching, research and community service, so that it may ultimately occupy its rightful place as a reputable university of technology, making cutting edge contributions to the advancement of knowledge, the technological and socio-economic development and global competitiveness of the nation.”
The NUC boss said over the years the joint ownership of LUATECH had been characterised by ‘insurmountable governance challenges as it relates to the appointment of vice-chancellors and other principal officers as well as irregular payment of staff salaries.”
