A governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Yunus Akintunde, has congratulated the chief promoter of newly approved Atiba University, Oyo, Dr. Adesokan Ojebode.
Recalling how promoters of the institution had to wait for 17 years to get accreditation, Akintunde explained that Ojebode is somebody that people must emulate, adding that his resilience and perseverance are hard to come by.
Akintunde, who was commissioner for works and transport, also congratulated the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, for the new university, disclosing that his reign has brought tremendous development to the town and neighbouring communities.
According to him, “Alaafin played an important role in the establishment of the university. This is apart from the fact that he advised the promoters to name it Atiba University, after the first Alaafin. Unknown to many, the promoters had proposed Oduduwa University in 1998 before Oba Adeyemi advised them to name it Atiba. They listened and today, people from near and far have continued to heap praises on the promoters.”
He added that the coming of Atiba University will further boost the economy of the town, explaining that “sooner, our town may become the intellectual centre of the Yoruba nation.
“With this development, Dr. Sokan Ojebode has etched his name in gold. For long, he will be remembered as one of the people who truly believe in the upliftment of Oyo. Also, the institution will offer our many young ones who are admission seekers opportunity to be educated in a serene and intellectually-conducive environment. Those who are/have attended schools here- at Saint Andrews College of Education, SACOED ( later OYSCOED and now EACOED), Federal College of Education, FCE (Special), Ajayi Crowther University, ACU, Federal School of Surveying, FSS to mention but a few can testify to the fact that Oyo is habitable and our people are friendly to visitors,” he said.
Akintunde, however, urged other well-meaning indigenes of the town not to relent in their efforts to put the town on firmer footings, adding that “nobody can develop our town better than us.”
He also advised them to lure their rich friends to Oyo in a bid to establish industries in the ancient town.
