Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has assured that his administration will give total support to the state-owned University and Nigeria’s premier Technical University, First Technical University (Tech-U), Ibadan.
He gave the assurance on Tuesday when he received the institution’s Governing Council which paid him a courtesy visit in his office. The visiting team was led by the university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe.
“Looking at the composition of the Council, I can say you are men and women of great accomplishment that is beyond the ordinary,” Makinde said. “You are some of the best we can get around”.
“When we were dissolving boards, we made an exception to Tech-U, because we looked at the profile of the people involved and we were convinced that you are there on your own merit”.
“If I were to choose members of the Council, I would have also chosen majority of you. We gave exception for Tech-U because of the work you’re doing for Oyo State”.
Makinde noted that he had exercised caution on the university because he wanted more information on its ownership profile. He however urged the university management to takes measures for its sustenance.
“Be free and creative to do something that is consistent with available resources and aspiration of the government and people of Oyo State. I will give you my absolute support”, Makinde said.
While restating his administration’s commitment to qualitative education to the people of the State, the Governor announced that he has approved the continuation of scholarship scheme to support indigent but brilliant students of the state studying at the University.
Noting that his government would prioritize governance above politics, he restated the readiness of his administration to continue with useful policies of the last administration and would not hesitate to modify or discard outright any policy found defective and not done in the interest of the people.
He charged the university authority to come up with creative ideas that contribute to the development of the state.
Earlier, Professor Ibidapo-Obe commended the governor for the strides he has so far recorded and assured that Tech-U would be available to provide requisite intellectual capacity to achieve the vision of the administration and tackle developmental challenges of the State.
On his part, Tech-U VC, Professor Ayobami Salami thanked the governor and noted that with the strides already made by the University, including obtaining its first patent within two years of commencement of academic activities and the recent webometric ranking that ranks it as one of the most impactful universities in the country, Tech-U is poised to become a notable science, technology and innovation hub that the State can be proud of.
