Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke commissioned six projects at the University of Ilesa amid a large welcome rally from students and staff, declaring he has fulfilled his electoral promise to make the university a functioning reality rather than a political talking point.
Within such a short period, I am proud that the University has taken its rightful place within the Nigerian university system, Adeleke told the crowd, our baby is growing to become an adult, addressing traditional rulers and Ijesa sons and daughters directly to say their shared dream is now a reality nobody can play politics with. He said his administration moved from a mere announcement under the previous government to enacting a state law establishing the university with a proper governance framework, securing accreditation for several courses, appointing world class administrators, and overseeing a smooth transition from the defunct Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, into a full university without disrupting staff. He listed further steps his government took: converting all temporary and contract staff from the defunct college to permanent, pensionable positions, clearing outstanding allowances owed by the old college’s management, approving and implementing new university salary structures including arrears, ensuring payment of previously withheld half salaries, and releasing withheld cooperative and other deductions. As a government committed to workers’ welfare, he said, we implemented regular promotion of staff with financial backing, adding that a similar salary scale approval extended to academic staff would soon reach non teaching staff once the state’s finances improve, and that despite financial pressure over the last two years, the administration continues upgrading the university’s physical infrastructure, with today’s commissioning a direct expression of that commitment.
University Vice Chancellor Olufemi Ashaolu, welcoming the governor alongside Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi and other officials, thanked Adeleke for his commitment to the university’s realisation, saying in just three years UNILESA has grown from a vision into a thriving academic community spanning 12 faculties, one College of Health Sciences, 110 academic programmes and more than 15,000 students, growth he said would not have been possible without the governor’s visionary leadership, consistent funding and personal commitment to making the institution a centre of excellence, and noted the growth has positively shaped the socioeconomic fortunes of host communities and Osun State more broadly. The projects commissioned included the remodelled Faculty of Law Annex Building, the remodelled Faculty of Public Health building, a reconstructed internal road network, new hostel buildings, a female medical hostel, and the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences. Adeleke commissioned the projects alongside Imole Campaign Council Chairman Wale Oladipo, Campaign Director General Senator Lere Oyewumi, General Chairman Sunday Bisi, Accord senatorial candidate for Osun East Ibukun Fadipe, members of the State Executive Council and other officials.
