The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

  • Education through entertainment: Theatre comes to LAUTECH

    Education through entertainment: Theatre comes to LAUTECH

    By Tunji Solomon

    Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH), situated in the ancient city of Ogbomosho, was recently agog with a flurry of theatrical productions by the new Theatre Arts Department of the institution. Within just six months of its existence, the department has mounted five full length plays, as well as a variety performance to mark the institution’s 35th Founder’s Day anniversary.

    When asked about the intensity of the performances, Prof. Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju, the head of department, and veteran of stage and television acting and directing from his teenage years, responded that “education through entertainment is our goal.”

    Indeed, the choice of plays reflects a concern with culture, history, drama, entertainment, and education. Most of the plays have been characterised as “legacy plays” within the Nigerian theatre establishment; they include Wole Soyinka’s The Lion and the Jewel, Zulu Sofola’s Wedlock of the Gods, Ola Rotimi’s Our Husband has Gone Mad Again, Femi Osofisan’s The Chattering and the Song, and Ben Tomoloju’s Jankariwo.

    The legacy plays bring to fore the significance of Oscar Wilde evergreen statement: “Memory is the diary we all carry about”.

    Wole Soyinka’s The Lion and The Jewel (performed 9th July 2025 at LAUTECH) weighs the essence of human desire, the decision that always follows, the inevitable outcomes, and the impact of intercultural exchange on the Nigerian moral ecology. The play is suffused with literary tools, accentuated by a sizzling performance by the theatre arts department. The tone and dots of innuendos were briskly tuned in the performance (dir. Ogundipe Hussein); metaphors walk naked, similes unveiled, liberated from solitary confinement. Ilujinle, a village in the throes of modernisation, demonstrates the cleavage between tradition and newness. It is a pleasure to be back to the world of Sidi, the village belle, the “jewel” and coveted prize of male quest and virility. Sidi’s beauty has ravaged many a suitor; her strength lies as much in exquisite physique, as in her wit and cunningness. Against all this is pitted the raw energy and ancient, native intelligence of Baroka, the Baale (Chief) and “lion of Ilujinle” played by  Abdulaziz Jamiu.

    Read Also: Nigerians in Libya deportation camp cry out for help

    The awkward coalition of Sidi and Sadiku, Baroka’s senior wife and pimp, signals a gender perspective. In what appears like a sudden conspiracy against men’s world, Sadiku glowers at the Lakunle the school teacher and another suitor: “We will deal with you like Baroka. Welcome to the world of women,”  she says.

    The play educates about culture and life. Culture is always in a flux, but fundamental aspects of culture are not be ignored either. Lakunle (played by Okeowo Boluwatife/Ogunsina Feranmi), a westernised, “book nourished shrimp” too eager to disown his native culture loses out, while Baroka, with his willingness to combine native intelligence with a promise of modernisation, claims the jewel, albeit with controversial foxiness as well.

    With Jakariwo by Ben Tomoloju (performed 10th July), the audience revisits the perpetual dysfunction in governance and social engineering in the country, compounded by the silence of the poor on issues affecting them. Jankariwo weighs the complexities of power and opportunistic leadership, the tendency of office holders to take undue advantage of the ordinary citizens in their vulnerability. Councillor (Onipede John) is the symbolic representation of the political class, their greed and their self-centred lifestyle.

    While these are mirrored as enemies of the state at the grassroots level, the trio of Teacher (Ogunshola Olushola) to Pastor (Orobiyi Oyindolapo) to Imam (Ramoon Mujeeb); the allegory of corruption is complete with the Bank Manager (Ogunwemimo Islamiyat), Leader of Trader (Bakare Roimot) and workers (OlayiwoleAjibola) also mirror the systemic failure of the nation. Teacher and Pastor bring to mind the corrupt clergy in The Pillars of the Earth – an adaptation of Ken Follette’s novel. The portrayal (dir. Ojewole Samuel) is vivid as the stage comes alive with the contradictions. The wife of the Councillor (Treasure Thompson) also reminds us with clarity the representation of the contemporary wives of elected political office holders, who waste tax payers’ money on needless adventures, while failing in their matrimonial duties to the extent that their duties become the duties of the house help. We encounter examples in contemporary Nigerian society.

    Femi Osofisan’s The Chattering and The Song offers (performed 11th July), Nigerians a glimpse of the revolutionary potential of youths and the possibility of a transformed society. History, song, riddles, poetry and dance are the inalienable ingredients of this revolutionary play. There is also the surface themes of betrayal, revenge and price of forgiveness underneath which drama and songs of revolution swell. The song of the weaverbirds “symbolises our nation now.” The drama is set amongst the middle class who are however nowhere near the middle of national wealth. Sontri (Adeleye Olayinka Jesutofunmi) and his colleagues have their dreams of revolutionary change in society shattered or at least delay in the complex web of human relationships. The play retains some hope for a rejuvenated future.

    Like Sontri, Mokan/Aresa (Ismail Okikiola) and Leje/Latoye (Adebayo Ebamiyo) delivered their roles effectively to actually lead the audience to call for the desired change. Yajin (Olawoyin Nifemi Ayodele); Bisi (Adedeji Marvelous); Yetunde (Fowosele Mary); Funlola/Olori (Ogundare Hannah) and the Guards (Olusanya Samuel) depicted the individuals in the society and their roles. The drama is a reminder of power of purpose in unity and not unity in emptiness – which is ideal for the revolution that would bear positive fruits. The need for collective action by visionary leaders and followers is convincingly well depicted on the stage at LAUTECH.

    The adroit leadership and commitment of the Department of Theatre Arts definitely showed through the sizzling performance of these actors, actresses, directors, and crew members who came into LAUTECH as fresh men and women only a few months back. However, Prof. Oloruntoba-Oju, the HOD, was also quick to draw attention to the support from the institution’s management, led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. R. O. Rom Kalilu*, and his team,and that of the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), Prof.Temisan Ebijuwa, and even the behind the scene encouragement of the Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Deji Omole. He also drew attention to the sustained input of his lieutenants in the department, Imoleayo Adisa, Olawale Iteola, Regina Olubunmi and Lekan Ajayi. The effect of this combined commitment on the young artists-in-training in the department is no doubt dramatic.

  • Oyetola, Makinde pledge support for LAUTECH

    Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola and Oyo State governor-elect Seyi Makinde have promised that their administrations will work to ensure that the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, succeeds.

    LAUTECH is co-owned by the Osun and Oyo State governments.

    Oyetola and Makinde spoke when the university management visited them in their states.

    Governor Oyetola said his administration is proud of the high standard of education obtainable in the institution, and promised to support it to combat its challenges.

    The governor promised that his door would be opened at all times to the Governing Council and Management.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Michael Ologunde, appealed to the governor to empower his management to put a permanent end to incessant strikes occasioned by inadequate funding.

    Makinde promised to “rescue the school from the claws of death”.

    The governor-elect urged the Prof. Ologunde-led administration to consolidate on the university’s leadership position, saying his government was not against disciplining students and workers, provided it is done with human face.

    Prof. Ologunde reiterated that the school management had no hand in the suspension of the Students Union President, Mr. Abiodun Oluwaseun.

    According to him, proscribing the union became the last plausible option to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

     

  • Don’t allow your children as saboteurs, ASUU tells parents

    Academic Staff Union of Universities Ladoke Akintola University of Technology ((ASUU- LAUTECH), Ogbomoso chapter on Monday warned parents and guardians not to allow their wards be used against lecturers of the institution.

    The union gave this warning while reacting to some reports that the institution had resumed for the 2018/2019 academic session on Monday.

    The union said it suspected that the management wanted to use the students against the struggle, adding that such effort would not see the light of  the day.

    In a statement signed by  the Chairperson Dr Biodun Olaniran, and the Secretary, Dr Toyin Abegunrin, the union noted it was   “monitoring the situation and would use all instruments at her disposal to forestall any crisis within its members.”

    The union said it had met with parents and other stakeholders to explain the reason for the strike.

    “Representatives of Ogbomoso Parapo and Parents’ Forum met with the leadership of ASUU-LAUTECH chapter today (Monday) to discuss their involvement in the on-going national strike of ASUU.

    “At a meeting that lasted more than two hours, the position of the union in the spirit of national struggle of ASUU was explained. At the end of the meeting, the group was satisfied with explanations of the lecturers for their participation in the strike, which is hoped to be resolved very soon.”

    The union thanked the parents for their understanding, urging them not to allow anybody use their children against their teachers struggle.

    “Recall that LAUTECH has been in the eyes of the storm for quite a while. This is due to no other reason than the problem of chronic underfunding of the institution by the owner states of Oyo and Osun. At a point, salaries could not be paid, the laboratories and workshops were ill-equipped for practical in a science and technology university, simple drugs became unavailable in the university clinic, sporting activities became relegated to the background due to non-funding of the unit, etc.

    “In spite of the outcry by the staff unions, government insisted that the university should continue running on IGR. The improbability of this was made clear by the Wole Olanipekun’s Visitation Panel who recommended, among others, that the owner states of Oyo and Osun should live up to their funding responsibilities to the university as a public institution . Tired of working without salary, all the staff unions on campus went on strike which lasted for months before the governments responded  by releasing money for payment of few months salary,” they said.

  • LAUTECH: Academic activities commence for 2018/2019 session

    The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo state, has commenced academic activities fully for the 2018/2019 session.

    Lecturers across the various faculties resumed lectures on Monday with students excited that the prolonged strike called by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was broken.

    Social and academic activities returned to the campuses of the institution both in Ogbomoso and Osogbo, while students were still returning as at the time of filing the report.

    Abiodun Oluwaseun, the Students’ Union President, who monitored the resumption alongside other executive members, expressed satisfaction with the directive to resume.

    Read Also: LAUTECH appoints new VC, two others

    “We are all happy and impressed that lectures are actually taking place in all the places we visited.

    “As a union, we cannot ask for more, we only want to appeal to those of our lecturers who are still not cooperating to join hands with their colleagues to salvage LAUTECH.

    “The number of students who have resumed is also very encouraging and we thank stakeholders for this New Year gift that is most appreciated,” Oluwaseun said.

    Rev. (Dr) Israel Olaniyan, the Chairman, Parents and Teachers’ Committee, said parents are particularly happy at the resumption of lectures.

    According to him, it is the news that we have always waited for, our joy as parents know no bound.

    “We are pleading with the governors of Oyo and Osun states to help ensure that workers are paid as and when due, so that we can hope for an uninterrupted academic sessions.”

    Olaniyan expressed the readiness of his committee to continue to meet with other stakeholders towards finding a lasting solution to the various problems threatening the survival of the university.

    Dr Azeem Ige, Chairman, LAUTECH Alumni Association, Ogbomoso branch, said all hands must on deck to salvage the university, “which some of us attended and gave the fame they have today.”

    He appealed to the leadership of ASUU, especially in LAUTECH to seek peaceful resolution to the crisis.

    “We are ASUU members and fully aware of what the association is fighting for; but we also have to consider the plight of our students.

    “Our appeal is for our leaders in the association to consider other means while lecture continues,” Ige said.

    NAN

  • Fees’ hike row at UNILORIN, LAUTECH

    The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) and the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), have reversed themselves on new fees following a meeting with students’ leaders. KABIR ADEJUMO and FADLULLAH AZEEZ report.

    Students were shocked when the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) increased their tuition and administrative fees. At Unilorin, the 100 percent hike affected all faculties, but the amount to be paid by each faculty varies. The school described the increment as “slight adjustment”, urging students to comply with the development

    However, Students’ Union Government (SUG) President Seyi Animashaun said no students would not pay.

    The SUG leader said: “What we have woken up to is rather unexpected, shocking and challenging. This cannot stand. I have called an emergency meeting with all the Students’ Union executives and all faculties’ presidents. We shall release a comprehensive report after.”

    Students took to Twitter to protest the  increment and called on the management to revert to the old fees.

    The management denied that the increment was 100 per cent, saying the review was a ‘slight adjustment’ to previous charges.

    A statement by the school’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, said: “We wish to put the record straight and assure our ever responsible students of the management’s good intentions. The University of Ilorin, in line with Federal Government’s policy, does not charge tuition fees.

    “What we have here is university charges and faculty charges. The items that make up the charges are simply fundamental and basic. For instance, examinations remain sacrosanct, same for provision of state-of-the-art health and library facilities, in addition to stable electricity and uninterrupted water supply.”

    Akogun added that the implication of the increment was that, what was obtainable about 12 years ago could no longer sustain the university currently.

    He said: “It should be pointed out that even with the slight adjustment in charges, UNILORIN is still among the lowest (if not the very lowest) charging federal universities in the country. This can be confirmed by comparing statistics of what is payable in other universities.”

    To ensure the increment did not degenerate into a crisis, the management called a meeting with the SUG and faculty presidents to discuss possible harmonisation of the fees.

    The hoopla generated by the increment was laid to rest after the meeting at which a compromise was reached by the management and students.

    The meeting, which lasted for more than six hours, was attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academics, Prof Sylvia Malomo, bursar, Mr Abiodun Saka,  Akogun, representative of the Registrar, Prof M.A. Oladosu, Dean and Sub-Dean of Students’ Affairs Unit, others.

    At the meeting, Prof Malomo said the fee review was necessary because of the economic situation in the country. She explained that the school spent about N360 million on electricity yearly, and N50million to fuel the generating set powering the school. According to her, N50million is dispensed to maintain infrastructure, among other expenses.

    She said: “We have tried to carry on, but we cannot continue in the face of increased expenditure.”

    After the management insisted that the previous charges could not be maintained, the students’ leaders proposed a five per cent increment, but the school objected.

    An agreement on 15 per cent increment was later reached at the meeting. The management said the review would be communicated to all stakeholders.

    A resolution was also reached at the meeting that faculties’ presidents should meet with deans to negotiate either reversal or reduction in faculty charges.

    The meeting was concluded with a promise from the management of a positive feedback in due time.

    While the UNILORIN students were awaiting the final announcement on the fees, the negotiation between the management of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and SUG leaders also ended on a positive note. The school reviewed the new fees downward.

    “We are done with the meeting and it is positive,” LAUTECH Students’ Union president, Oluwaseun Abiodun, said in a text message to our correspondent.

    Under the new fees regime, 300- to 500-Levels students who are Oyo and Osun states will now pay N90,000, while non-indigenes on the same levels will pay N100,000. The fees for those in 200-Level remain N120,000 for indigenes and N150,000 for non-indigenes. Fresh students of Oyo and Osun states’ origin will pay N140,000, while non-indigenes will pay N170,000.

    LAUTECH, last July, announced fees increment, raising the amount to be paid by indigenes and non-indigenes to N200,000 and N250,000 from N63,500 and N72,500.

    The announcement led to a series of protests on Ogbomoso and Osogbo campuses.

    The owner states’ governments distanced themselves from the decision to increase the fees.

    It was against that backdrop that the management met students’ leaders last Friday.

    Before the increment, the school was shut down for months by workers over poor funding. The school introduced fees increment as part of the options to improve internally-generated revenue.

    The Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Sunday Adewale, confirmed the fees have  been slashed.

    “Yes, that’s true. The fees have been reduced,”he said in a telephone conversation with our correspondent.

    A member of the LAUTECH Governing Council and president of the alumni association, Solomon Onilede, described the development as positive.

    He said: “It is a positive one. I actually facilitated the meeting between management and students’ leaders. As president of the alumni union and a member of the university council, I believe we have to wade in and save our heritage. If everyone is tired, we can’t be tired. We have to play our part to resolve the issue.”

    One of the students’ leaders, Isreal Fawole, said although the demand by students was complete reversal, they accepted the reviewed fees “in order to ensure justice is done to all parties and to maintain the standard of the school.”

    The SUG leaders appealed to the owner states to “be more responsive to their responsibilities to the school.”

    The meeting had in attendance representatives of the parents’ forum, Ogbomoso leaders, Governing Council members, alumni association leaders and students’ leaders.

  • Tension in LAUTECH over new fees

    Barely two years after it plunged into a crisis that disrupted its academic calendar, the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Oyo State, is courting another. Students are asking if it is justified for the school management to increase  tuition fees? The students of the school, jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states, believe the recent increase in tuition fees is part of a grand plan to make education unaffordable for children of the poor.

    The school, last week, issued a memo to announce more than 100 per cent increment in tuition fees. According to the memo signed by the registrar, students who are indigenes of owner states are to pay N200,000, from N65,000 paid the previous academic session, while non-indigenes will pay N250,000, from N72,500 they paid previously.

    The breakdown of the new fees was sent to the students through their email, signed by the school registrar a day before the students came out to protest the tuition fee hike.

    Students, however, rejected the new fee regime, describing it as “commercialisation of education”. In a protest last week, the demonstrators called on the management to maintain the status quo, vowing not to pay the new fees.

    The protesters asked the management to explain the rationale for raising the fee by more than 100 per cent, noting that the school did not consider the current economic situation of the country before embarking on the fees hike.

    The demonstrators, who gathered at the entrance of the school’s main campus by 8am to participate in the protest tagged: #OccupyLAUTECH, chanted various Aluta songs. Their colleagues in the Osogbo, Osun State, campus also staged a rally simultaneously. The protesters paralysed activities on both campuses of the school.

    Bonfires were made on the Ilorin-Ogbomoso Highway, which is directly in front on the main entrance of the Ogbomoso Campus, leaving travellers stranded for hours on the road. The protesters accused the management of insensitivity, saying the increment was ill-timed and needless.

    It should be recalled that the school, two years ago, faced a crisis that resulted in the disruption of its academic calendar. The campuses were shut for more than six months by the LAUTECH chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which accused the Oyo and Osun governments of an attempt to close the institution due to their inability to finance it.

    Sunday Ajani, a protester and clerk of the Student Representatives’ Council (SRC), said many students’ academic pursuits could end with the introduction of the new fees, noting that most students struggled to pay the old fee.

    The students’ leader said the increment was an attempt by the school management to deny the children of the poor their right to education.

    He said: “Education should be a right and not a privilege. Increasing the tuition fees will deny majority of the students their right to acquire education. If education cannot be made free for all, then it should be affordable for the children of the rich and the poor.

    “The management should know that many students are still owing school fees when it was N65,000 and N72,000. How do they expect them to cope with these new fees? We appeal to the Oyo and Osun governments to increase the subvention given to the institution in order to make education affordable. Our parents shouldn’t pay through their nose because they want to give us education.”

    Rofeehat Akinloye, a 200-Level Accounting student, described the new fees as “joke of the year”. She said: “I believe the proposed tuition fees are just a joke, but the school management should know that students won’t take it lightly with them. That’s why there was protest to show the school that the increment shouldn’t be the next thing for now.

    “While we wait patiently for the next action from the management after our protest, I will rather suggest they revert to the old tuition fees paid in 2017/2018 session by indigenes and non-indigenes. I am optimistic that the school will do the needful. They should not chase away the fresh students recently admitted with the new tuition fees.”

    Another student, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Those governing the school should know that many of us are dependants and our parents struggle to pay the old fees. In as much as we are not the only ones our parents have to cater for, how do they expect us to raise such a whooping amount of money for school fees?

    “I have a younger brother, who wants to sit for Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) next year and these expenses are on my parents. If they cannot get the money, it means that one of us has to stop going to school. I have a classmate whose parents went to borrow money from a credit society last year to pay his fees. Till today, they are still paying back the money. I am just waiting for the school to release our results, after which I may consider applying for a transfer to another school.”

    Some of the LAUTECH students took to social media platforms to express their grievances. A 300-Level student, who simply gave his name as John, wrote on Twitter: “The only feasible solution for me is to drop out now or what do you expect a poor student like me to do? I can’t afford the new fee. I can’t.”

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders are meeting with the school leadership for a compromise on the new fees. It was gathered that the SUG leaders resolved that they would continue with the protest if the school management does not reverse the increment within 48 hours. The students, it was learnt, are also considering taking their protest to both Oyo and Osun governments’ houses.

    When reached for comments, the Head, Public and Alumni Relations Unit, Mr Lekan Fadeyi said he was not authorised to speak on the matter.

    “I cannot speak on the matter. You know it is a Council decision.  It is only the Registrar that can speak as he is the Secretary to Council,” he said.

  • LAUTECH ASUU kicks against fee hike

    The Branch Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso,  Dr Biodun Olaniran has said the union is against commercialization and Privatization of Education in Nigeria.

    Dr Olaniran said the union as is against  the fee increment policy in the university.

    “We are against the fee increment in the varsity and as a body we would do everything to ensure we kick against it as the government has no plans for education.

    Read Also: ‘Let Oyo take over LAUTECH’

    “There should be proper funding of education which will be accessed by the poor. Education should be for all not for the rich alone.  Students should not be extorted because of education.

    “We are working towards the crisis and very soon everything will be solved because we would be meeting with the  school to lay the demands of the body as the national body itself are aware of the development and we urge students to be calm as everything is under control.”  he assured.

    The management  LAUTECH recently  increased the tuition  fee of the varsity which led to a protest by the students who kicked against the hike.

  • ASUU threatens strike over 10-months salary debt at LAUTECH

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Friday threatened to embark on strike over ‘the worrisome situation’ at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho owned by Osun and Oyo states government.

    The body disclosed that lecturers were being owed 10-month salaries, warning that the shabby treatment of its members at the institution by both governments may trigger a nationwide industrial action.

    The union made the threat in a press conference in Awka, Anambra state through its Owerri zonal leadership, comprising of comprised of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State University, Owerri, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

    The zonal coordinator, Comrade Uzo Onyebinama, accused the two governors of conspiracy to deny the workers of the institution the right to wages as well as neglect of their constitutional responsibilities of providing quality education to their citizenry.

    He said the union had a duty to alert critical stakeholders and citizens of Nigeria on an issue that had continued to threaten the essence of the university system, warning that the situation was capable of truncating academic programmes in the institution.

    According to him, the university had continued to lag behind because of abysmal condition of learning, governance and infrastructure brought about by near absence of funding by the proprietors of the university.

    Read Also: ASUU raises alarm of LAUTECH facing imminent collapse

    He said: “The festering case of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomosho, jointly owned by Osun and Oyo states, is particularly pathetic and very worrisome. LAUTECH has continued to have problems of very poor funding since 2013 due to failure by owner state governments of Oyo and Osun, to take responsibility of funding the university.

    “LAUTECH has for long not received subvention and presently depends solely on funds from tuition. The university currently owes staff ten months salary arrears, (2013-2017), promotion arrears and 2009-2017 Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).

    “There is no evidence of infrastructural development at LAUTECH since the inception of the present governments of Oyo and Osun states. In view of this ugly situation, staff and students of the university, as well as their parents and sponsors have been subjected to untold hardship.

    “Despite the fact that several visitation panels have been sent to the university, especially the committee set up by owner state governments chaired by Wole Olanipekun, SAN, which made recommendations for resolving the funding crisis in the university, the owner state governments have not implemented any of the recommendations.

    “Our union has continued to bring up issues of concern about the governance of our universities and the nation because they form part of our professional and moral responsibility as enshrined in our Constitution.

    “ASUU is one body and whatever affects any branch affects the entire body. If the two state owner governments fail to act fast, we might call out our members nationwide for industrial action as our immediate concern is the welfare of our members and students in the institution who are suffering.”

    The union called on members of the public and well- meaning Nigerians to prevail on the governments of Oyo and Osun states to take the training and education of Nigerian children more seriously by adequately finding LAUTECH and addressing all the welfare issues of all stakeholders in the university.

  • Lawmaker to students: Aluta is outdated

    A member of Osun State House of Assembly, Olatunji Olatunde, has said lack of productivity is one the problems bedeviling the nation.

    The lawmaker spoke at the maiden leadership training organised for undergraduates by the alumni association of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

    Olatunde said it was regrettable that the population of the country does not translate to human capital that would drive development and economic growth.

    He advised undergraduates to look beyond what he called “outdated ideas of Aluta and militancy”, which, he said, promotes aggressiveness and yields no results.

    Olatunde pointed out that universities should be grounds for breeding progressive leaders, urging students to acquire skills that would make them useful after school.

    He said: “Students’unionism should not be about militancy; it must focus on solving immediate problems facing the students. Leadership and power are all about responsibility. Going at a speed in the wrong direction will be inconsequential. There should be a paradigm shift from the old way to empirical governance and leadership.”

    The lawmaker pointed out possible solutions to enhance productivity and growth of students in LAUTECH, as he implored management to create opportunities for growth and engage students in productive ventures aside from going after certificates.

    Advising students on how to handle peer pressure and social vices, Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi, Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Education, emphasised the need to be self-disciplined and understand what one wants in life.

    Hon. Afeez Bolaji, Special Assistant to Oyo State Governor on Youth and Sports, spoke on balancing extracurricular activities and academics, and menace of elections.

    The event was attended by Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sulaiman Gbadegesin, who led other top members of the school.

    The event with the theme: Active youth participation in good governance: A tool to sustainable development, was organised by the alumni association. It was aimed at re-orientating students on leadership and governance.

  • Don decries dearth of medical specialists in academics

    Prof. Taiwo Adewole of the Department of Chemical Pathology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso,has raised alarm over the inadequacy of medical specialists in basic sciences at universities.,

    Adewole made the observation in a keynote address at the inaugural meeting and scientific conference of the Medical and Dental Specialists in Basic Medical Sciences ( MeDSABAS ) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The don, who defined basic medical sciences as the building block in medical practice, emphasized that in spite of this vital role professionals in the field would rather go into the clinical aspect.

    He decried that shortage of these manpower had impacted negatively on professionalism, adding that such lapses paved way for non-professionals in medical field to train basic medical sciences.

    The News men report the theme of the meeting is, “The Dearth of Medical Specialists in Basic Sciences: The way forward.’’

    X-raying the theme, Adewole attributed the inadequate manpower to poor remuneration and discrimination, among others.

    He noted that it had greatly affected the quality of students churned out from medical schools as majority of things taught were irrelevant to the profession.

    According to him, basically the challenges of the shortfall centered on students, medical specialists and universities themselves.

    The don defined medical specialists in basic sciences or academics as group of medically qualified lecturers in the university saddled with the responsibility of teaching basic medical sciences outside the clinical aspects.

    Adewole noted that due to poor welfare package large number of these professionals rather than using their wealth of experience to impact on the younger generation channel their wealth of experience into clinical aspects of the profession.

    “Every student wants to be a physician, gynecologists and pediatricians, among others. No one wants to go into academics.

    “Medical students are also good in academics because it is only doctors that are the best to teach doctors.

    “But if we fail to explore this area of medical profession and allow nonprofessionals to teach our students it would deter the competence and proficiency of our younger generations.
    “I encourage the students that there are good opportunities for medical students, who choose to go into academics.

    “So many of them have graduated with MBBS awaiting for residency programme, there is huge reward if they go back to academics where they come from, they should derive pleasure and fulfillment being a teacher training doctors in this country,’’

    Adewole, who described teaching in the profession as not attractive, however, recommended that the Federal Government should institute and implement policy that would encourage professionals to embrace teaching.

    According to him, there is need for additional incentives and better welfare package for doctors that offered to teach as such measures will provide more professionals in the field and as well increase the health outcomes.

    Read Also: Buhari off to London for medical

    “FG should put in place enabling policy, it is not easy to build doctors, who will offer to teach because teaching is not ordinarily attractive,’’ Adewole noted.

    Similarly, Prof. Tukur Umar, the president of the association, said the conference was aimed at joining forces to fight a common course for the benefit of the medical profession.

    According to him, the sole aim of the association is to build basic medical sciences in such a way that medical qualified doctors would be the one to take charge in teaching their colleagues.

    “The formation of this association is necessitated to assist in encouraging the young ones as well as the qualified doctors to come and take up teaching in the universities.

    “This will enable us have a common goals, welfare and enhance the frontiers of knowledge,’’ he said.

    NAN