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From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
Academic activities at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Iseyin campus, have been thrown into uncertainty following allegations by the host community and students that some lecturers have persistently failed to resume teaching duties months after the campus began operations.
The concerns were raised on Monday at a press conference held at the palace of the Aseyin of Iseyinland, where leaders of the Iseyin Development Union (I.D.U) and representatives of the student body warned that continued inaction could jeopardise the future of the College of Agricultural Science and Renewable Natural Resources.
Speaking at the briefing, the National President of the I.D.U, Alhaji Mubasiru Azeez, said the community was alarmed by what it described as a near breakdown of academic activities at the campus since lectures officially commenced on October 13, 2025.
According to him, several departments critical to the college’s academic mandate have been largely inactive, as many lecturers allegedly assigned to the Iseyin campus have not reported for duty.
He listed departments such as Crop Production and Soil Science, Crop and Environmental Protection, and Agricultural Economics as being among the worst affected, noting that students in those units have reportedly not received any formal lectures since resumption.
Azeez disclosed that the situation in other departments has been equally troubling, with only skeletal teaching arrangements in place. He said just one lecturer was reportedly available in each of the Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Animal Production and Health departments, while only four lecturers were handling courses in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development.
He warned that the development has disrupted academic calendars, weakened practical training and placed students at risk of delayed graduation.
While acknowledging the efforts of the Oyo State Government in establishing the campus, Azeez praised Governor Seyi Makinde for approving the relocation of the college to Iseyin and providing the necessary financial and logistical backing for its takeoff.
He said the community, traditional institution and other stakeholders had reciprocated by offering full cooperation and a conducive environment for learning.
Despite this support, the I.D.U. president lamented that the benefits of the new campus were being undermined by what he described as internal resistance from some members of staff.
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He recalled that student frustrations had earlier culminated in a protest on January 20, 2025, an action he attributed to prolonged teaching gaps and uncertainty surrounding examinations and results.
According to him, more than half of the students affected by the disruption were forced to return to Ogbomoso, where they reportedly engaged in informal farm work instead of structured academic programmes.
The community also raised concerns over the alleged non-release of some 400-level results, even as the affected students had advanced to their final year, describing the situation as detrimental to academic planning and student morale.
Another major concern highlighted was the lack of practical training, despite students having paid levies for farm practicals for the 2025 academic session.
Azeez said final-year students have also been subjected to financial and safety risks, as they are reportedly required to travel repeatedly between Iseyin and Ogbomoso for project supervision, contrary to expectations that all supervisors would be based at the new campus.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Oyo State Chapter, Comrade Tiamiyu Taiwo, said the prolonged absence of lecturers has placed undue pressure on students and threatened the credibility of the academic process.
He called on the LAUTECH management and the state government to urgently enforce compliance among all lecturers posted to the Iseyin campus, warning that failure to act could trigger further unrest.
Both the community and the students appealed to Governor Makinde to intervene decisively to stabilise academic activities, ensure full deployment of lecturers to the campus and protect students from further disruption.
They expressed optimism that timely government intervention would restore confidence in the campus and safeguard the long-term vision of making Iseyin a hub for agricultural education and research in Oyo State.
