Osun: Adeleke commissions major projects at UNILESA

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Tuesday commissioned six major academic and infrastructural projects at the University of Ilesa (UNILESA), declaring that his administration had transformed the institution from a vision into a fast-growing centre of learning within three years.

The governor, who described the event as another milestone in the state’s education sector, said the University of Ilesa had rapidly earned its place in Nigeria’s university system through effective leadership, government support and strategic investments.

Adeleke congratulated the Governing Council, the Vice-Chancellor, management, staff and students for what he called their managerial and academic achievements, expressing satisfaction that the institution had continued to expand despite its relatively young age.

Addressing traditional rulers and the people of Ijesaland, the governor said his administration had fulfilled its promise of establishing the university, stressing that what began as a campaign pledge had become an enduring reality that should not be subjected to political manipulation.

He recalled that his administration enacted the law establishing the university after inheriting what he described as a mere pronouncement by the previous government, adding that the state subsequently secured accreditation for several academic programmes and appointed experienced administrators to drive the institution’s growth.

According to Adeleke, the transition from the former Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, to a full-fledged university was successfully managed without adverse consequences for workers, while over 300 contract employees inherited from the college were converted to permanent and pensionable appointments.

The governor also said his administration settled outstanding staff allowances inherited from the former college, implemented a new salary structure for academic staff, paid salary arrears and outstanding half salaries, and released withheld cooperative and other deductions owed to workers.

He assured non-teaching staff that the state government would extend the revised salary structure to them once the state’s financial position improved, adding that regular promotions backed with financial benefits would continue under his administration.

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Adeleke acknowledged prevailing economic challenges but maintained that his government had remained committed to improving physical infrastructure across the university, saying the projects commissioned reflected that determination.

The projects inaugurated include a remodelled Faculty of Law Annex, remodelled Faculty of Public Health Building, reconstructed internal road network, new student hostels, a female medical hostel and a Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences building.

Earlier, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu, described the governor’s visit as historic, noting that it was the first time the institution’s Visitor would personally commission projects on the campus.

The Vice-Chancellor said the university had recorded remarkable growth since commencing operations in April 2023, expanding to 12 faculties, a College of Health Sciences, 110 academic programmes and a student population exceeding 15,000.

Asaolu attributed the institution’s rapid development to the Adeleke administration’s consistent funding, release of take-off grants, annual capital allocations, improved staff welfare, conversion of contract workers, provision of a 500KVA transformer and the upgrade of the State General Hospital, Ilesa, into the university’s teaching hospital.

He expressed optimism that the university would graduate its pioneer set of students next year, while reaffirming the institution’s commitment to sustaining academic excellence and supporting the government’s vision of building a world-class university.