The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilesa, Ilesa, Osun State, Prof. Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu, has revealed how the authority is striving to ensure that students of the institution make difference in the larger society by driving expected changes and contribute in feeding the populace.
Asaolu disclosed that the University commissioned the Model Integrated Teaching and Research Farm where students are equipped and trained on livestock management and other agricultural programmes, stressing that no student of the institution would graduate without participating in the entrepreneurship development for the better good of themselves and their extended societies.
He made this known during a media engagement on how far the school has fared in the last 18 months of its official take-off on the campus on Monday.
The VC who reeled out the giant strides of the state-owned institution, disclosed that the National University Commission (NUC) has so far approved a total of 67 courses for the university including Law, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Anatomy among others.
With over 2,000 current students, the pioneer VC said the institution has experienced industrial peace and harmony since its establishment and commencement, commending the state governor, Ademola Adeleke for funding the university and prioritising the welfare of staff.
Asaolu disclosed that Governor Adeleke has approved the engagement of 230 temporary staff inherited from the defunct College of
Education on permanent basis in the University.
He also said that with a view to preventing the teaching profession from going into extinction, the university has declared its undergraduate Education programmes tuition free to boost enrollment.
Speaking on the efforts of the institution in producing students that would become assets to the nation especially in terms of food production, Prof. Asaolu said: “On 6th March, 2024, the University commissioned the Model Integrated Teaching land Research Farm, which comprises of the following – Fish ponds, rabbit section, cow ranch, ram and sheep ranch, turkey and chicken pen, cane rat (grasscutters) farm, snail farm, apiculture arable crops plantation, among others. The farm provides a suitable
platform for practical teaching in agricultural practices as well as lifelong learning experience.
“If you look at the curriculum of the University of Ilesa, you will see that every course has embedded in it entrepreneurship; we don’t want a situation wherein we will just produce graduates that cannot even help themselves, talkless of help the university. So when you talk about Economics, we have econopreneur, you talk about Pharmacology, we have Pharmacopreneur, and things like that. Every student of this university must engage in entrepreneurship development, before we came here, there was nothing like teaching and research farm. No student will graduate without passing through all these.
“When you can talk of feeding another person, you would have thought of feeding yourself. I believe any student that passes through this school should be in the position to feed himself, his immediate family and even the extended society.”
He explained that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) credited the University’s account with a sum of Ninety-Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy One Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N98,871,500:00) only as loan
disbursement to 247 students of the University and lauded the state governor for encouraging tertiary institutions in Osun State to key into the programme.
“The University, on its part, has also approved tuition scholarship for
students studying programmes in the Faculty of Education in the
University to encourage increase in enrolment of candidates for the
different programmes in education and to prevent the teaching profession
from going into extinction. This decision is in conformity with Governor
Adeleke’s integral action plan.
While identifying funding as major challenge confronting the institution, Asaolu stated, “Our challenges include lack of perimeter fencing, encroachment by herdsmen, mining on the school land, but the most serious among them is the issue of funding. The governor has been trying, has it not been for the governor, the university would not have made any serious progress.”
He announced that fresh students for the 2024/2025 academic session will resume on 4th November, 2024 while returning students will resume on 11th November, 2024.
