“Everything has turned upside down, they have destroyed that faculty.”
That is how a lecturer (who however pleaded anonymity) in the faculty of agricultural sciences and renewable natural resources of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, put the situation at the Iseyin campus.
Recall the Oyo state government under Engr Seyi Makinde established the campus and relocated the faculty there which is however being done in phases. Students in 200 level constituted the pioneers there in the 2022/2023 academic session. The students resisted the move especially when it’s discovered the facilities at the satellite campus and accomodations were inadequate in the host community. But government did not listen thereby forcing over 65 percent of the students to abandon their studies, according to available data.
The pioneer students have transited to 300 level now and a new set of 200 level students has moved there as another session begins.
Further investigations by Ogbomoso Insight have revealed the fundamental problems have remained.
These problems include inadequate facilities. “Only two buildings are still there, which were inadequate for about 500 students that moved there last year out of 1, 550 and now with another set of students the problem is compounded,” says the lecturer.
“It’s insane. The situation is now worse. Accommodation problem in the town. High cost of living. Moreover, we lecturers have to travel to and fro Ogbomoso and Iseyin to attend to students. As an instance, l take classes of a level in Ogbomoso and take 200 level in Iseyin.
“So, l have to continually shuttle between the two places not minding the risks and increased finances imposed. We are landlords and landladies in Ogbomoso they want to make us tenants at Iseyin when a better course of action could have been taken.”
He threw more light, “Instead of excising the faculty from the permanent site in Ogbomoso, programmes could be duplicated in the new campus. The Polytechnics in Saki and Eruwa carved out of Ibadan Polytechnic run similar programmes with that of Ibadan, it wasn’t that they extracted programmes and shut them down at the main campus.
“I see the whole thing as insincerity on the part of government and on Professor Adewale (the provost) and his co-travellers, who are giving the governor the impression it’s workable. It’s wilful wickedness. We don’t even see him (Adewale), he couldn’t convene meetings, how will he look us in the face? That is his dilemma, he is quite aware he is on a wrong course.”
More students are leaving the faculty, and it is in droves, it is learnt.
“My daughter ought to have resumed 200 level at Iseyin this new session but thank God she has secured admission at a Nursing School,” a distraught father said.
“The news we hear about Iseyin is not encouraging. The children face uncertainty. This is a blight on the administration of Governor Makinde, how can he superintend the destruction of a hitherto thriving faculty and jeopardize the future of thousands of students due to political agenda.”
Another staff member submitted: “It is obvious that the faculty is oversaturated with staff already, main reason new programmes should be considered for Iseyin. Also, that will give room for employment of entirely new staff instead of everything being muddled up as we presently have. And if any hand is needed from Ogbomoso it will be on special arrangement. That way facilities will be commensurate with numbers of students and staffs and all will grow together. Students are seriously suffering, there is gross accommodation challenge and high cost of living at Iseyin. I appeal to the governor to have a rethink.”
