Students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, on Monday, stormed the Governor’s office, Ibadan,to show their appreciation to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde over the takeover of the institution.
While addressing the students and other visitors, Makinde said that following the ceding of ownership of the Ladoke Aaakintola University of Technology to the Oyo State Government, the University can now fulfill its purpose as one of the country’s leading institution of technology.
Governor Makinde, in his statement, also hinted that the institution may soon become multi-campus.
Governor Makinde said, “LAUTECH has the opportunity now to be the citadel of learning and research and finally, LAUTECH has the opportunity to be multi-campus. It will happen.”
READ ALSO: Oyo Is Fully Ready To Fund LAUTECH To Excellence – Makinde
The Governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa,said he will continue to work for the progress of the university.
The governor said it was, indeed, a pleasure to have the students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology “come here this afternoon to show appreciation for what the government has done. The bottomline was when you were singing “Seyi sa ma sin wa lo’’ (Seyi, continue to lead us).
“Yes, indeed I came to you to beg for your support for me to be able to serve you and you gave me the opportunity and serving is what we are doing. It is what we will continue to do till the end of this administration.”
He also told the students that it was time they allowed the state to feel the impact of the institution on the economy of Ogbomoso and Oyo State, saying: “My only advice is that LAUTECH is a university and university came from the word universal, so please, we have an opportunity now to feel the impact of LAUTECH on the economy of Ogbomoso, the economy of Oyo State and the economy of this country, Nigeria.”
Speaking on behalf of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) JCC, Oyo State Chapter, the Chairman, Mr. Opakunle Oluwafunmbi, said the purpose of the visit was to show appreciation to Governor Makinde for the takeover of LAUTECH by Oyo State.
He said, “It is a great pleasure and a great opportunity that we are here today to actually appreciate Your Excellency for the kind gesture to us in LAUTECH and its community.”
“It has been hearsays that we had been hearing up and down. But it’s great news to us and to the entire mass of LAUTECH that we are able to have authentic news on LAUTECH.
“So, this morning, with my colleagues, fellow LADOKITES, we tender our unreserved gratitude to you that we appreciate what you have done in LAUTECH and what you will still do in years to come.”
Also, the Student Union President of LAUTECH, Mr. Olabiyi Anthony, thanked Governor Makinde for making Oyo State’s sole ownership of LAUTECH a reality.
He pledged their unwavering cooperation and support to the Makinde-led administration but appealed to the Governor to implement a massive cut in the fees paid by the students which has resulted in schooling become unattractive to some of them
The visit had in attendance the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon. Seun Fakorede; Special Assistant to the Governor on Students’ Affairs, Mr.Victor Olojede, the chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) JCC, Oyo State Chapter, Mr. Opakunle Oluwafunmbi, the Student Union President of LAUTECH, Mr. Olabiyi Anthony, as well as hundreds of students of the university.