For those who have been waiting and watching, the Abiola Ajimobi-led administration in Oyo State has concluded arrangements to officially commission the buildings of its new Technical University in Ibadan.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Fellow and former President of the Academy of Science, Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo Obe, Former Head of service of the Federation, Professor Oladapo Afolabi, and the Olubadan in Council are among the dignitaries expected at the epochal event.
The State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun disclosed this at the weekend while featuring on a live radio programme, saying that the commissioning will come up on Tuesday, June 6, at the Tech U permanent site, km 15, Ibadan/Lagos expressway.
He revealed that the governing board of this first of its kind in Nigeria institution will also be inaugurated on the day, saying that the board is headed by the former Vice chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Ayo Ibidapo Obe.
Arulogun noted that the series of activities marking the 6th anniversary of Governor Ajimobi in office continues, adding that the state government would unveil its e-Governance platform on Monday to continue the commemorative activities for the anniversary.
The Commissioner said that Governor Ajimobi is expected to commission the Apex Bank’s intervention project for TechU which consists 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.
Arulogun explained that the CBN buildings were constructed on about 1.455 hectares of land, assuring that the state will embark on additional developments on the 200 hectare university to actualize the vision behind the establishment of the TechU which is to provide technical knowledge and support base for the industrial revolution of the state and Nigeria as a whole.
The government spokesman assured that the government is assiduously working towards the October 2017 resumption date, noting that the state government would only provide seed money for the take – off of the university and there won’t be any form of subvention after then as it would operate on a pubic – private – partnership platform.
He said that the vision behind the institution is to be a self-financing one as the government will ultimately detach itself after establishing and nurturing it.
Packaged by Oyedapo Oyewole