Follow Us on Google
Unveils remodelled facilities
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has claimed that he fulfilled his pledge to make the University of Ilesa (UNILESA) a reality, adding that “nobody can play politics” with the university again.
He made the claim on Tuesday during the inauguration of remodelled and newly built university facilities, including a remodelled Faculty of Law annex building, a remodelled Faculty of Public Health building, a remodelled Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences building, and a new hostel building.
According to Adeleke, his administration enacted a state law establishing UNILESA, provided a governance framework, secured accreditation for several courses, and appointed administrators with “strong political will” to manage a smooth transition from the former Osun State College of Education, Ilesa.
He noted that his administration also converted temporary/contract staff of the former college to permanent and pensionable staff, paid outstanding allowances, implemented new university salary structures, including payment of arrears, and released withheld cooperative and other deductions.
“To our royal fathers and the entire Ijesa sons and daughters, I have fulfilled my pledge to make this university a reality. Your dream, our dream, is a reality that nobody can play politics with.
“From an audio pronouncement by the previous administration, our government enacted a state law establishing the university, providing a framework for its governance. We secured accreditation for several courses.
“With strong political will, we appoint world-class administrators to man the university. We oversee a smooth transition from the defunct Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, to a University without any negative effect on staff.
“We implemented the conversion of all temporary/contract staff of the defunct College to permanent and pensionable staff. We paid all outstanding allowances owed by the management of the defunct college.
“We approved and implemented new university salary structures, including payment of arrears. We ensured payment of half salaries owed to workers in Osun State as well as the release of withheld cooperative and other deductions,” Adeleke said.
The UNILESA Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Taiwo Asaolu, said the university has grown from a vision to a thriving academic community with 12 faculties, one College of Health Sciences, 110 academic programmes and over 15,000 students in three years.
He commended the governor for releases such as the take-off grant in 2023, funding for resource verification, logistics to host the NUC team, annual releases for capital projects, power support, including a 500kVA transformer, and funding to settle outstanding allowances for staff inherited from the former college.
Prof. Asaolu also praised Adeleke’s approval of the conversion of the State General Hospital, Ilesa, to a UNILESA Teaching Hospital, the appointment of principal officers, the recent funds to revamp decayed hospital facilities, and the implementation of a revised salary structure for academic staff.
The Chairman of UNILESA’s Governing Council, Hon. Gbenga Onigbogi, disclosed that an 18-hole golf course valued at N2 billion had been constructed on campus by the Ijesa Golf and Country Club, pledging that the council would continue to uphold transparency, accountability, and due process.
