- 1,109 students set to graduate at maiden convocation ceremony
From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
The Vice Chancellor of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti (BOUESTI), Prof. Olufemi Adeoluwa, has appealed to the Ekiti State Government to increase the monthly subvention to the institution to ensure the smooth running and maintenance of the ivory tower.
The VC who appreciated the support of the State Governor and Visitor to the university, Biodun Oyebanji, for the institution, lamented that the current monthly subvention of N275 million to the university is grossly inadequate to pay its staff whose current wage bill is N430 million monthly, urging the state government to raise it to N500 million to enable the university pay its staff, defray debts, maintain physical structures and meet other needs.
He also said that since the creation of the university in 2020, it has not received either a capital grant or a take-off grant from the state government, and the university has been left at the mercy of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for physical development.
Adeoluwa made the appeal on Monday at the university’s campus in Ikere-Ekiti during a press conference as part of activities lined up for the maiden convocation ceremony of the institution starting from Monday, March 3 to Sunday, March 9, where he explained that the university needs the increment to meet up with the current economic realities in the country.
“The monthly subvention from the state government is grossly inadequate for the university because the university has a lot of debts to pay and old physical structures to maintain.
“Truth be told, the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, increased the subvention by N100 million in early 2024, which totalled around N275.8 million, but things are not the same again.
“We need the increment to meet up with the economic realities of the country. The university has not received either capital grant or take-off grant from the state government, and the university is, therefore, left at the mercy of TETFund for physical development.
“Many of the buildings in the university are old and dilapidated, and some of them need complete re-roofing. So, if the government can increase it to around N500 million, we will appreciate.”
Appreciating the Governor, he said, “I wish to express my unquantifiable appreciation to the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, for his unwavering support and deep commitment to the growth of tertiary institutions in Ekiti State, particularly our university.
“I am indeed grateful for his promise to reconstruct the internal road networks of our university as well as to furnish the magnificent Wole Olanipekun Senate Building, which was commissioned in November 2024.”
Adeoluwa also expressed gratitude to the Chancellor of the university, Chief Wole Olanipekun: “I wish to specially thank our Chancellor, Chief Wole Olanipekun for his great commitment to the vision of the university and continued philanthropic gestures which culminated in the donation of the state-of-the-art Wole Olanipekun Senate Building to the university. We are eternally grateful for his kind gestures.”
The VC stated that on Saturday, March 8, which is the convocation day of the week-long ceremony, 1,109 students would be graduating with various degrees from the university.
According to him, they consist of 172 students of the College of Education, 392 of the College of Science, 499 of the College of Social and Management Sciences and 46 of the College of Technology.
Giving the breakdown of their classes of degree, he said 38 would bag First Class, 425 would be awarded Second Class (Upper Division), 586 Second Class (Lower Division), and 60 for Third Class
He added that there would be a convocation lecture by Prof. Akinjide Osuntokun, Emeritus Professor of History and conferment of honorary doctorate degrees of the university on some important personalities, including, the incumbent Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, the Senator representing Niger East at the National Assembly, Senator Sani Musa, the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Alagbado and the Chancellor.of Ekiti State University (EKSU) Ado-Ekiti, Dr Tunji Olowolafe.
Adeoluwa, who said that the university has recorded many achievements since inception, reaffirmed its commitment to academic excellence, innovation and community service, assuring that the institution will continue to provide a world-class education that will empower its students to become leaders and responsible citizens.