The Oyo State House of Assembly has advised the management of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University to expedite actions on the request of the state Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde submitted the institution’s ‘Model Financial Sustainable Plan’ for consideration and approval to raise finances for its operations.
The advice was part of the recommendations in the report presented before the House by the Chairman, House Committee on Education (Tertiary Institutions, Science and Technology), Hon. Oluwafemi Fowokanmi during the plenary on Thursday.
The report is in line with the directive of the House of Assembly to the Committee to conduct a Need Assessment of the university in order to enhance its operational capacity and achieve self-sustainability.
Presenting the report of the before the House presided by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Muhammed Fadeyi, Hon. Fowokanmi disclosed that the Committee met the management led by the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adesola Ajayi, who gave the Committee updates on the university.
The lawmaker representing Ibadan South state constituency 1 said that the findings of the Committee revealed that the last grant received by the university was in January 2018, while its only source of revenue is the yearly local government scholarship for indigent students.
He commended the state Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde for providing infrastructures such as gatehouse, security and good road network within the university.
Hon. Fowokanmi appealed to the governor to consider upward review of five slots students scholarship from each local government per annum to 10, emphasizing that it will increase students enrollment and improve the university’s operation capacity.
The report also urged the state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to take steps towards liaising with TETFUND management to abate the substantive sharing of interventions between Ladoke Akintola University of Technology and Abiola Ajimobi Technical University on yearly basis to actualize a separate intervention for each of the university.
While applauding the management of the University for its focus and commitment despite pressing challenges, the lawmaker called on philanthropists across Nigeria to support the vision of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University through sponsorship of educational endowment funds, provision of infrastructure, innovation and technology centres.
