Consider interest of students, LAUTECH VC, urges ASUU

FOLLOWING the reopening of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Adeniyi Gbadegesin, has sought for the cooperation and understanding of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other staff unions, to ensure the full resumption of academic activities.
Speaking against the backdrop of the agitation of the ASUU for proper funding, Gbadegesin decried the spiral effect of nation’s recession on the funding of the institution by the owner state governments, urging the staff unions to also consider the interest of the students in their clamour.
He urged the staff unions to see the combined sum of N500 million by the Oyo and Osun state governments as a starting point of their increased commitment to the funding of the institution.
Chairman, ASUU, Dr Biodun Olaniran, speaking with journalists on Monday, had said that the staff union was irresolute in demanding a proper funding pattern of the institution by the Oyo and Osun state governments provided an agreeable plan on defraying the indebtedness of N7.1billion to the university.
Speaking further, Gbadegesin prayed for the regular release of subvention to the institution by the owner governments.
He added that the management was doing all its best possible to shore up its Internally Generated Revenue through the setting up of board of LAUTECH ventures and an Institute of software engineering to patent its products and sell them to corporate organisations.
Furthermore, he assured students of management‘s determination to ensure that they make up for what was lost during the eight months strike.
“We thank the owner state governments for rising up to the challenges that confronted us in the last eight months. But at the same time, it is not over until it is over. We are appealing to the state governments to continue to assist us so that the dreams of the founding fathers of this university will be realised within the shortest possible time.”
“I want to thank staff unions for their cooperation and understanding. To me, the challenges are almost over, all we need now is understanding and especially, the interest of the students. It is not easy to be off your normal duties, academic activities, for seven or eight months. The university community is a responsible community and we promise to make use of every kobo given to us in order to make education available to the generality of the people of Oyo and the state of Osun.”
“We have had non-interruption of school activities for five years until recession set in. But we know that recession is a phase in any country’s life. Even the best of Western countries went through this phase and came out of it. And whatever is lost, by the grace of God, the management and staff are determined to make sure that they recoup what is lost. The unions have promised to have their congresses and we hope for positive progress this week.”
“We have set up a board of LAUTECH Ventures to see to shoring up our IGR. The school council has also set up Institute of Software Engineering where we patent most of our products and sell it to corporate organisations. We are trying to link up with google to assist us in developing software in most of the industries,” Gbadegesin said.