Osun on the world map again

Kunle Oyatomi

In addition to the numerous records and firsts,the State of Osun has notched under Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, APC, there is yet more being rolled out by the administration. Like the owner of a bottomless chest of treasures who keeps drawing out precious gifts to a crowd, Oyetola has not ceased to dish out new things for the enjoyment of the citizens of Osun.

The latest from the stable of Oyetola is the take-off of the University of Ilesa, making it the 60th state university and the 220th in Nigeria. Last week, the National Universities Commission, NUC, presented the Letter of Recognition for the tertiary institution to commence to the governor. That ceremony marked the successful completion of the formal documentary process into the establishment of University of Ilesa. Professor Abubakar Rasheed, Executive Secretary of NUC, presented the letter to Oyetola in his office in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Although a brief session, the event attracted prominent sons of the State of Osun, among them a former governor, Bisi Akande, Emeritus Prof. Olu Aina, Speaker of Osun House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.Timothy Owoeye, Chief of Staff to Osun Governor, Dr. Charles Akinola and former Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole.

Governor Oyetola said the event has further laid credence to his commitment to upgrading the 44-year-old College of Education at Ilesa to a full-fledged university. He described education as the bedrock of all socioeconomic and political growth and development, adding that the advent of the learning centre would go a long way to address palpable deficit in university education, particularly in the State of Osun and beyond.

Governor Oyetola declared: ‘’The establishment of the University of Ilesa is necessitated by the massive gap between qualified candidates and available space in existing higher institutions within the State, as education remains the primary industry in Osun. The yearning is considerably insatiable, and as responsible leaders, we cannot ignore these needs…The new University of Ilesa shall focus on Agriculture and Agri-business to address food insecurity; mining technology, building on the abundant gold deposit in Ijesaland; and Medical Sciences to enhance the human resource need in the health sector. We are very deliberate in our approach as we seek to contribute to the diversification of our economy and wean it from over reliance on oil.’’

The NUC scribe, Prof. Rasheed lauded Oyetola for his giant feats in office, stressing that the new university is adding to his laurels. He lauded the governor for the initiative and described it as ‘’one of the most important legacies of Governor Oyetola.’’ Rasheed said the governor established the university in the ‘’right place, with the right people.’’ In view of this conviction, the NUC boss declared: ‘’I am sure the people of Ilesa will not allow it to go under.’’

One of the severe burdens on the university system in Nigeria is that the products are made unduly vulnerable after graduation because of lack of entrepreneurial input. They are exposed largely to bookish or dry academic and theoretical acquisition without skills and vocational leanings. They leave the four walls of the classroom without being adequately ready for life after their degrees. No doubt, they have their great degrees. But do these fit them for self-employment in the present circumstances of dwindling job opportunities in the civil service and private sector? The answer is a resounding no.

That is the reason analysts are worried that the new Ilesa University would follow the traditional trajectory of the existing institutions. You can’t blame them, given the failure brought upon the society and our children by those saddled with the curriculum in the tertiary institutions.

But with what has been presented at the University of Ilesa right from this early stage, it is obvious that we are in for a fresh breath. Why am I so optimistic? The morning shows the day. The new university is kicking off with mandate to be a thoroughly entrepreneurial and innovative confluence of studies. There’s going to be a mix of the theory and practice, but with more of the latter. Thus when it graduates its products, they won’t be at the mercy of the vagaries of the economy. They can do without the so-called white-collar jobs. They would be masters of their own destinies, creating jobs, reducing the unemployment stats and helping government bring prosperity to the citizens.

Our leaders and investors in the education system should take a cue from Governor Oyetola’s initiative at the University of Ilesa and save the nation and our young ones from a harrowing and fruitless life after graduation by exposing them to functional education in the classroom.

Oyatomi Esq., chieftain of APC, is the author of a book, ‘FINGERPRINTS: Nigeria’s tangled transition to nationhood’.