Tech varsity belongs to Oyo state, not me – TheNigerialawyer

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has put to rest the
controversy surrounding the ownership of The First Technical
University, Ibadan.

The institution, he said, belongs to the state government wholly
and not any individual, including himself.

The governor made the clarification while receiving traditional
rulers in the state, led by Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who
were on a courtesy visit to his office, on Monday.

Among the royal fathers on the entourage drawn from the six
zones of the state were Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola;
Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdul-Ganiy Salawudeen; Olugbon of
Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola; and Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba
Owolabi Olakulehin.

Ajimobi also used the occasion to avail the royal fathers of his
administration’s achievements in education, agriculture, peace,
security and infrastructure, among others in the last eight
years.

He said the state government had not expended any fund on the
establishment of the university till date, as all the structures in
the institution’s premises were built by foreign donors and the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Ajimobi said: “Let me use this opportunity to dispel the rumour
going around that I am the owner of The First Technical University,
Ibadan.

“People are expected to talk, especially when they lack proper
information but if we fail to dispel the rumour, it may stick and
become the truth.

“I want to say without any equivocation that I do not own the
Technical University, Ibadan.

“It belongs to Oyo State Government wholly. It is easy for
people to come up with such rumour because of the successful
establishment of the university.

“It is the first of its kind in Nigeria and we are happy that we
succeeded in achieving this in our time.

“Nobody believed we could achieve it, especially during a period
the country was grappling with economic challenges.”

He added: “Oyo State has had no financial input in the
establishment of the university till date.

“All what you see there were done by lovers of the state,
indigenes living abroad, international institutions and the
CBN.”

He urged other well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to
also support the university through construction of structures like
students’ hostels, halls, block of classrooms, amphitheatre and
sports complex, all of which he said could be named after the
donors.

The governor expressed appreciation to the traditional rulers
for their unflinching support for his administration in the last
eight years, which he said had contributed to the success so far
recorded.

Oba Adeyemi said there was no institution that could correctly
appraise the achievements of any administration in any state than
traditional rulers.

He said the election of Ajimobi for two consecutive terms was a
testimony of people’s love and support for him and their
acknowledgement of his administration’s success in some critical
areas like education, health and infrastructure.

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