The Executive Director of Projects Implementation, Federal Housing Authority, Engr Oluremi Omowaiye, has congratulated the Osun State, particularly the Ijesa compatriots, as well as students and staff of the University of Ilesa (UNILESA), on the fourth anniversary of the university's approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
On November 10, 2022, UNILESA received approval from the NUC as the 60th state-owned university and the 220th university in the Nigerian university system. This followed the efforts of the Osun State Government under the leadership of the then Governor, His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, who sought the approval of the national regulatory body after assenting to the bill passed by the State House of Assembly to upgrade the foremost College of Education in Ilesa to a university.
Following the approval, Governor Oyetola inaugurated the university's Governing Council, appointing former Minister of Health and former University of Ibadan Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, as Chairman while the pioneer management, led by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Ijadunola, subsequently secured the university's immediate registration on the JAMB portal and inclusion in its admission brochure, paving the way for student admissions.
Omowaiye used today's occasion to commend former Governor Oyetola for fulfilling his promise to the Ijesa people, particularly the departed paramount ruler of Ijesaland, Owa Obokun Adekunle Aromolaran, whose dream of having a university in Ilesa, was realised during his lifetime.
The former Commissioner for Works and Transportation also acknowledged the contributions of the then Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Timothy Adigun, who, as head of the legislative arm of government, ensured the speedy and timely passage of the bill that paved the way for the establishment of the university.
However, Omowaiye appealed to the Osun State Government to urgently review what he described as the exorbitant tuition fees imposed on students of the institution, noting that the high fees had discouraged many qualified Ijesa indigenes from pursuing their university education at UNILESA.
Speaking on the issue, Omowaiye said:
"As a son of Ijesaland, I feel pained when I see some of our younger ones helpless in their pursuit of university education because of the high school fees charged by UNILESA. Some students are charged as much as N1.5 million per session.
"This was not the dream of the founding fathers of the university. The purpose of upgrading the then College of Education to a university was to provide greater access to educational opportunities.
"It is painful that these noble dreams are being cut short because the school fees are far beyond the reach of ordinary citizens. Governor Ademola Adeleke should please address the issue of school fees at UNILESA."
No comments:
Post a Comment