The National Universities Commission has transferred ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology LAUTECH Ogbomoso to the Oyo State Government while the Osun state Government is to take over the College of Health Sciences in Osogbo.
The resolution followed the lingering ownership of LAUTECH over the years.
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission Professor Abubakar Rasheed stated this at a media briefing in Abuja.
Professor Rasheed said both Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Adegboyega Oyetola signed a memorandum of Agreement to the development.
Professor Rasheed expressed optimism that the new arrangement would restore peace to LAUTECH.
However, GOALPOACHER NEWS.COM reports that the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, had set up a five-member panel of eminent indigenes of the state in November 2019 to advise him on how the state government can take sole ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).
The university, which is located in Ogbomoso in Oyo State, is jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states, having been created when the two states were one.
Mr Makinde said the “committee’s mandate is to, in a manner of speaking, secure a divorce for Oyo State from joint ownership of the university with Osun State.”
In a statement on the official Twitter page of the governor, Mr Makinde disclosed the members of the committee. They are Ayodeji Omole as Chairman, Jumoke Akinjide, Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), Oyelowo Oyewo, and D Shangodoyin.
The committee is to look into the LAUTECH ownership and other related issues and submit its reports in four weeks.
Meanwhile, in a chat with GOALPOACHER NEWS correspondent, one of the professors at the University who craved anonymity, said the institution awaits official declaration from the Governments of Oyo and Osun.
He said though he lacks the capacity to speak on the issue but the report that Oyo State has become the sole owner of the Institution could be premised on the fact that Oyo State has been the only state releasing monthly subvention to the institution from January till date.
He noted that the initial arrangement is that if Oyo pays for the first six months, Osun will pay the other six months. The University don said that the arrangement has been altered since the beginning of 2020.
As at the time of filing this report, efforts to speak with the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Taiwo Adisa and Hon Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olasunkanmi Olaleye proved abortive as the duo didn’t answer their phone calls.
