We are here today to inaugurate the governing council of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso. From the countenance of everyone here, we can see that we are all on the same page regarding the future of this school and where we want it to be.
The role of the governing council may be almost invisible. Still, their impact is undoubtedly felt in the direction that the school is headed. Their position is very strategic. One of their core duties is overseeing and ensuring accountability on the part of the school’s direct administrators.
It is definitely not a position that one takes on and then goes to sleep. This is a special call to duty and service. And looking at the calibre of people on this board, I am convinced that you are up to the task.
And what is this specific mandate we are giving you?
We want you to take the necessary measures and pursue vigorously all strategies and tactics that will make LAUTECH a world-class university.
What you are getting is an opportunity to shape this school for future generations. You no longer have the excuse to say one state or the other is holding back the school’s progress. So, I encourage you to get the job done.
You can be assured of the continuous support of the state government in this regard.
Let it be that the next news we will hear in future is that because of the work you did, LAUTECH has broken into the list of the top 10% universities in the world. I challenge you to key into this vision. We are not talking about the top ten in Nigeria. You should already know that we want you to take us from 13 to 1. Yes! We are talking about the world. That’s why we say make it into a world-class institution. The Oyo State Government is ready to work with you to make that happen.
But just before I end this remark, let me use this opportunity to talk about the lingering polytechnic strike. The students were at the Secretariat the other day to make their grievances known. I heard from them. Let me make this clear. We would not have this situation if those schools’ governing councils did their jobs transparently and honestly. We had to resort to hiring consultants because of the opacity of their transactions. We also know that they are unwilling to accept that the old order of things is gone. We will be making a decision about the next steps this month. Let me reassure the students and all well-meaning stakeholders that whatever decision we take will be in the interest of progress. Sometimes, we need to make sacrifices so that future generations may benefit.
In the case of LAUTECH, as we inaugurate this governing council, we can rightly say that the first phase of acquiring this school and setting things up for success has ended in praise. This next phase of rebuilding will also end in praise.
So, let me restate that we have confidence in you sixteen governing council members. We know you can take LAUTECH to the point we want it to be. And we look forward to hearing the next big news. By the grace of God, that news will be that Ogbomoso’s number one has become Nigeria’s best.
~ Governor Seyi Makinde, April 1, 2021