Insecurity: KWASU suspends relocation of Agric faculty to Ilesha-Baruba

The management of Kwara State University (KWASU) has put on hold the scheduled relocation of its Faculty of Agriculture to the Ilesha-Baruba campus in the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The directive was issued in a memo signed by the Registrar of the institution, Dr. Kikelomo W. Sallee, on Thursday, April 24, 2025, and addressed to the concerned faculty.

In a statement by the Acting Director of University Relations, Dr. Saeedat Aliyu, the management stated that a new date for the relocation would be communicated to the faculty in due course.

The statement recalled that the Faculty of Agriculture had been scheduled to commence the Rain Semester at the Ilesha-Baruba campus.

Meanwhile, a sociocultural group in the area, the People’s Voice Advocacy Network (PVAN), had earlier called for the suspension of the relocation of KWASU’s Faculty of Agriculture to Ilesha-Baruba, citing insecurity.

ALSO READ: Bauchi govt flags off African vaccination week

It is recalled that communities in the Baruten and Kaiama Local Government Areas recently witnessed attacks by bandits, resulting in the loss of innocent lives.

However, in a separate statement, the Baruten Patriotic Agenda (BPA), through its Director of Media and Publicity, Almajiri Umar Farouq Idris, described PVAN’s statement as self-serving.

The BPA, which rejected PVAN’s call, claimed it was motivated by self-interest rather than genuine concern for the welfare of Ilesha-Baruba’s residents and students.

“PVAN failed to acknowledge that progress cannot be obstructed in response to a single unfortunate incident. PVAN’s call for the suspension of the relocation undermines the broader vision and efforts put forth by both the government and the community for over a decade. Ilesha-Baruba is renowned for its peaceful environment, making it more than capable of hosting an academic institution. The notion that one act of violence justifies halting the advancement of educational opportunities is not only misguided but also detrimental to the state’s progress.

“Moving forward, it is worth noting that if the University of Maiduguri and other red-flag zones can continue their academic operations despite the serious security challenges they face, what justification exists for suspending the relocation of KWASU’s Faculty of Agriculture to Ilesha-Baruba? Such a decision should be anchored in rationality and a commitment to academic growth, rather than a reactionary approach driven by fear.

“Moreover, had the academic session commenced earlier as planned, would PVAN still have called for the closure of the Faculty following the incident? Ilesha-Baruba deserves statements of solidarity during this period, not unfounded stereotypes depicting it as an unsafe community.

“The BPA urges PVAN to redirect its focus towards constructive engagement and to refrain from perpetuating fear and division within the state.

“We all must come together to reaffirm our commitment to progress and cooperation during challenging times.”