Olubiyi Fadeyi Ajagunla Recently, the member of the National Assembly, Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi Ajagunla who represents Osun Central Senatorial District sponsored a bill demanding an establishment of a Federal University in the Osun State capital citing a claim that Osogbo is the only capital city in the Federal Republic of Nigeria without a Federal University. The bill is said to have passed the First Reading, which is normal. However, for anyone who may seem to have the future of Osun State at heart, it will be apolitical to come forth and challenge the bill that is being sponsored by Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi in the name of Osogbo.
Although Senator Fadeyi may have covenant with some sect of people before he was elected as the Senator representing the Senatorial District which might have influenced his decision to sponsor the bill, it is important to remind the Senator that what is constant is "Change". Hence, the present reality does not favor the bill he is sponsoring. To cut this article here may pave the way for so many questions, but it is better to shed light on some of the points that may unveil a hidden agenda in the proposal for Osogbo Federal University by Senator Ajagunla.
Economy: Required Portion of Land for the Establishment of a University in Nigeria
The National University Commission (NUC) requires a minimum of 100 hectares of land for the establishment of a University, more considerable for a Private University in Nigeria. The major issue is, if Osogbo is to be economical with Senator Ajagunla's bill for the establishment of a Federal University in Osogbo, the city may need to look deeply into any area in the state capital with at least 400 hectares of land without destruction of people's home, litigation and other disturbing effects.
Many people may begin to wonder about the choice of 400 hectares whereas a minimum of 100 hectares is required by the NUC. Thank you, and that is why "Economy" was used to tag the subheading hosting this section of the opinion.
Osogbo may need to take the hard lesson from the site of the Osun State Secretariat, located at Abere. The location of the State Secretariat has brought more benefits to the neighboring Ede that the Osogbo which hosts the state capital. Only a conspirator will dispute this because, the location of the Government Secretariat at Abere has brought more developmental prospects to Ede, opening up the Abere area in Ede, turning Owode Forest in Ede into a worth of city center, opening up the Akoda area in Ede while Aisu has already grown to the worth of a Government Reservation Area.
The same thing may happen if Osogbo eventually gets the proposed Osogbo Federal University without the ability to provide at least 400 hectares of land whereas the University will be sited at the 100 hectares half of the 400 hectares, with the anticipation of 100 hectares of land to the left, right and the front gate of the university.
Recall that, Osogbo can only manage to provide 100 hectares of land at locations that may either share a border closely with other towns including Ede, Ilase-Ijesa, Ilahun, Ikirun, and/or Iragbiji.
It is not that Osogbo is too small as a city but the rate at which migration has taken people to the state capital has highly consumed a portion of land belonging to the state capital city. Then, if care is not taken, Osogbo may only bear the name on paper while the neighboring towns enjoy the economic benefits that may be attached to a community hosting a University. If you think there are 400 hectares of land available anywhere in Osogbo with no litigation and home destruction, please let us exchange the idea in the comment section.
The 'Bait and Switch' Deception in the Bill
So far in Nigeria, there is not a single state with three Federal Universities, and the question may be if Osun will be the first state to achieve that whereas, some states still have only one Federal University and are in the developmental stages of university existence. At the end of the day, Senator Ajagunla will come back to those he might have had a covenant with, and tell them he has tried his best but this and this policy have denied him and eventually stopped his bill for the establishment of Osogbo Federal University. Let us dig deep into this.
If at all, a Federal University is coming to Osun State today, forget about whether it bears the title of Osogbo Federal University or is sponsored by a Senator from Osun Central Senatorial District; the deceptive aspect of this is that Ila Orangun where Senator Ajagunla hails from is already hosting a Federal University in the same Osun Central Senatorial District where Osogbo belongs. We should not forget that the bill that established the Federal University in Ila Orangun was not even sponsored by Osun Central Senator when it was established. Remarkably, the bill was sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir representing Sokoto East Senatorial District. So, it is important to know that sponsoring such a bill by a Senator from the senatorial district is not the final seal for the location.
Now, the deceptive part of it could be that when the bill gets to a certain reading, a Senator from any part of the country will just come up with an observation that Osun East already has Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife; Osun Central Senatorial District already has University of Health Sciences in Ila-Orangun, then it is the turn of Osun West Senatorial District to have a Federal University. That is if at all it survives the test of having three Federal Universities in a state whereas some states have just only one.
Believe this or not, the bait might have caught the fish but the ownership game will change immediately, and it would be too late for Osogbo to send a voice up to the National Assembly in redress of the "Bait and Switch" game in the bill. Do not be surprised if Ede, the unofficial capital of Osun State hijacks the University.
The Expected Voice of Osogbo
Osogbo already has the FOUNTAIN University by the Muslim Community, NASFAT, and it also hosts the headquarters of the Osun State University, if at all, the state capital needs a full-pledge public university, let Osogbo stands on Osun State government to take the headquarters of Osun State University out of the city and upgrade the Osogbo campus of Osun State University to a full-pledge University and restrategize the Technical College in Osogbo.
After this, Senator Ajagunla should be encouraged by the great people of Osogbo to sponsor a bill that will awake Federal Government to mandate the revival of Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill, Osogbo Machine Tools, Osogbo Trade Fair and facilitate how Osogbo as a state capital will host at least, one of the 75 business enterprises that President Bola Tinubu hinted will benefit from N75 billion enterprise fund that his administration is coming up with.
Besides, Senator Ajagunla should sponsor a bill that will revitalize the Industrial layout that is directly opposite St. Charles Grammer School, along Ilesha Garage in Osogbo, and assists to re-energize the Obelawo Plastic Industry along the Stadium Area in Osogbo.
Sen Ajagunla should be told that industrialization brings rapid and stable development to a city at a higher and more reliable space than paying host to a University. You may not agree with this submission, it is a free world and you are free to express yourself in the comment section without being political.
Category: Forum
Tag: Osogbo Federal University Olubiyi Fadeyi Ajagunla
Written by Omooba Alekuwodo (omoobaalekuwodo)
Published 8/2/2023 3:02:23 PM