The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilesa, Unilesa, Osun State, Professor Taiwo Asaolu, has disclosed that it got the sum of Ninety-Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy-One Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N98,871,500.00) from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NEL Fund) as loan disbursement to 247 students of the institution.
This was as he said, the university had gotten approval to start its law program with an admission quota of 50 students.
The Vice-Chancellor made these known on Monday while addressing journalists in his office at the school campus.
Prof. Asaolu highlighted some of the achievements made by the management of the institution since it was upgraded to a full-fledged university from the erstwhile Osun State College of Education.
The Vice-Chancellor said the university has gotten approval from the National University Commission to run 35 new programs from the 2024–2025 academic session in addition to the 32 programmes it is currently running.
He noted that the university had commissioned the Model Integrated Teaching and Research Farm, which comprises the following: fish ponds, rabbit section, cow ranch, ram and sheep ranch, turkey and chicken pen, cane rat (grasscutters) farm, shale farm, apiculture, and arable crop plantations, among others.
According to him, the farm provides a suitable platform for practical teaching in agricultural practices as well as lifelong learning experiences.
He added that the university has also approved tuition scholarships for students studying programmes in the Faculty of Education in the university to prevent the teaching profession from going into extinction.
According to the Vice Chancellor, “The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NEL Fund) credited the university’s account with a sum of Ninety-Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy-One Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N98,871,500.00) only as loan disbursement to 247 students of the University of Ilesa. I wish to thank the governor for encouraging tertiary institutions in Osun State to key into the programme.
“On 24th July 2024, the NUC came again for the resource verification of another 35 additional new programmes and granted the university approval to run all the 35 academic programmes in full-time mode with effect from the 2024/2025 academic session.
“The University had earlier received the approval of the NUC to run all 32 programmes with effect from the 2023/2024 academic session. This, therefore, brings the number of programmes approved for the university to a total of 67.
“The Council of Legal Education visited the university on 10th September 2024 for the facility inspection of the Faculty of Law. I am happy to report that the Council has also granted approval to the university to start its law programme with an admission quota of 50 students.
“The University, on its part, has also approved tuition scholarships for students studying programmes in the Faculty of Education in the University to encourage an increase in the enrolment of candidates for the different education programmes and to prevent the teaching profession from going into extinction. This decision is in conformity with Governor Adeleke’s integral action plan.”
Prof. Asaolu appreciated the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, for making the welfare of the staff of the institution a priority.
“On Staff welfare, the University received the approval of Mr Governor to engage 230 temporary staff inherited from the defunct College of Education on a permanent basis in the University.
“May I also inform you that most of these temporary members of staff whose appointments were converted to permanent status had spent over 20 years as temporary staff in the former College collecting very poor and irregular monthly salaries Their hopes were, however, renewed and restored as a result of Governor Adeleke’s magnanimity and kindness. They are all how proud permanent staff members of the University of Ilesa.
“Still on Staff welfare, the Governing Council approved the promotion of thirteen (13) Senior Lecturers to the rank of Associate Professors. Some other categories of academic staff and non-teaching staff members also enjoyed promotion and upgrading during the period.
“Members of staff of the defunct College were owed a humongous amount of allowances that had accumulated for many years. We made a special appeal to the Governor of Osun State, and Mr. Governor, in his usual kindness and concern for the welfare of workers, approved the release of funds to offset the allowances. This assisted Management in maintaining industrial harmony that ensures a successful take-off and smooth running of the University.”
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