…Seeks NUC Approval
A youth group under the auspices of Owo Youth General Assembly (OYGA) has lauded Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State for the conversion of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) into the University of Agricultural Science and Technology.
The Youth group described the Executive Council’s decision as a watershed moment in the educational and socio-economic evolution of Owo Kingdom and the state at large.
The OYGA, in a statement issued by its President, Comrade Temidayo Samson Obadaye, characterised the Executive Council’s approval as a monumental policy breakthrough capable of redefining the educational landscape of the state and positioning Owo as a strategic centre of excellence in agricultural research, scientific innovation, and technological advancement.
The Assembly expressed profound appreciation to Aiyedatiwa for what it described as his “exceptional statesmanship, visionary leadership, and resolute commitment to the advancement of higher education.”
Obadaye noted that the Governor’s action had not only fulfilled a long-standing aspiration of the people of Owo Kingdom but had also demonstrated a deliberate commitment to institutional development, human capital enhancement, and sustainable economic transformation.
His words, “The approval granted by the State Executive Council represents far more than an administrative decision. It is a historic intervention that will undoubtedly expand educational opportunities, stimulate research and innovation, attract investments, and accelerate socio-economic development within and beyond Ondo State.”
While applauding the Governor for the landmark achievement, the Assembly urged him to immediately commence the next phase of the conversion process by transmitting the necessary Executive Bill to the Ondo State House of Assembly for expeditious legislative consideration and passage.
The youth group stressed that prompt legislative action would provide the statutory and legal framework required for the formal establishment and operation of the institution as a university.
The Assembly appealed to the Governor to facilitate immediate engagement with the National Universities Commission (NUC) with a view to securing all requisite approvals, accreditations, and certifications necessary for the institution’s operational take-off.
According to him, “It is our considered view that all administrative, regulatory and statutory processes should be pursued with utmost urgency to ensure that this noble vision does not suffer avoidable delays occasioned by bureaucratic bottlenecks.”
The OYGA also advocated the immediate appointment of principal officers for the proposed university, including the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Bursar, and University Librarian, noting that early constitution of the institution’s administrative machinery would significantly enhance planning, coordination, and seamless commencement of academic activities.
The Assembly recommended a transitional framework that would permit the proposed University of Agricultural Science and Technology to commence operations using the existing infrastructure of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, while a gradual and professionally managed migration process is undertaken.
According to him, such an arrangement would ensure continuity, safeguard institutional assets, protect the interests of students and staff, and facilitate a smooth transformation from polytechnic to university status.
The youth organisation described the development as a triumph of visionary leadership and collective aspiration, saying the proposed university possesses immense potential to emerge as a nationally competitive institution with global relevance in agriculture, science, and technology.
The Assembly congratulated Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye, the Olowo of Owo, for what it described as his relentless advocacy and unprecedented commitment to the growth and development of Owo Kingdom.
It equally extended felicitations to other traditional rulers within the kingdom, political leaders, community stakeholders, professionals, and sons and daughters of the town, both at home and in the diaspora, for witnessing what it termed “a defining moment in the history of the ancient kingdom.”
The group reaffirmed the readiness of the Owo Youth General Assembly to support all lawful and progressive measures aimed at ensuring the successful establishment and sustainable growth of the proposed University of Agricultural Science and Technology.
