Take over the Ownership of LAUTECH, Alumni Urges FG

Yinka kolawole In Osogbo
The Alumni Association of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, has called on the Federal Government to take over the ownership of the institution following the inability of the two owners (Osun and Oyo) states to meet up with their financial obligations.

The President of the Association , Mr Jide Bewaji who made the appeal, recently, while addressing journalists in Osogbo, Osun State, said it was incumbent upon them as the old students of the institution, to join hands in finding permanent solutions to the challenges currently facing their Alma mater, just as it called on all stakeholders to wade into the crisis.

ThisDay reports that Ladoke Akintola University is jointly owned and financed by both Osun and Oyo states and in the last three years the two states have not been fulfilling their financial obligations.
The association specifically called on the Chancellor of the University, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come to their aid, while urging him to intervene in the matter by facilitating a meeting with the Visitors of the university with a view to finding a lasting solution.

They also appealed to the institution’s owner state governors to pay all the outstanding subventions owed the institution to the tune of N7 billion, and commence regular payment of monthly subventions as and when due.
They also condemned the recent action of some students who went on rampage and locked the university gate against UTME candidates scheduled to write their exams within the school premises.
The LAUTECH old students said though, the association understands that the students’ action was borne out of frustration on the effect of the strike action on their future, noting that they should have employed another means of agitating for their rights.

They therefore apologised to the candidates, JAMB management and the entire public on the untold hardship and embarrassment the action might have caused them.
The alumni also condemned the ‘despicable action’ of a section of the students that went on rampage and distastefully displayed the obituary of a living Vice-Chancellor, saying, “we find this act as barbaric and a display of poor character. “

The association expressed its unalloyed support for the university management under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adeniyi Gbadegesin, for performing exceedingly well in managing the affairs of the institution.
“The Alumni association strongly believes that the white paper on the report of the visitation panel submitted to the government on February 10, 2017, should have been completed. We request that the white paper on the panel be made public without any further delay.”