The Oyo State Government has so far paid N5 billion to the Osun State Government as part of the agreement for the full ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.
This was revealed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, in a statement on Monday.
Oyelade said Oyo State has been paying N1 billion every year since both states reached the agreement on November 20, 2020.
“The total takeover amount is N8 billion. The government has been paying N1 billion annually, and the full payment should be completed before the end of the Seyi Makinde administration in 2027,” he said.
He confirmed that the latest payment of N1 billion was approved by Governor Makinde last Thursday.
It would be recalled that Oyo and Osun jointly owned LAUTECH for years, but the partnership often faced disagreements. Between 2007 and 2019, both states had several clashes over funding and management of the institution.
To resolve the issue, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo and his Osun counterpart agreed in 2020 that Oyo would take over full control of the university.
“Since then, the institution has grown in leaps and bounds, reclaiming its status as the best state university in Nigeria,” Oyelade said.
He also mentioned that LAUTECH has continued to expand. One of its major additions is the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the Iseyin campus.
“Last Thursday, as Governor Makinde approved the release of N1 billion to Osun, he also approved N650 million as a take-off grant for the Teaching and Research Farm at the Iseyin campus,” the commissioner said.
He added that the government had also started building health centres and roads at the Iseyin campus, Abiola Ajimobi Technical University in Ibadan, and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education in Oyo.
Oyelade said all these efforts are part of the government’s commitment to improve education and infrastructure across the state.
