Governor. Isiaka Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has pledged to ensure the establishment of the University of Ilesa.
He made the assertion in Osogbo on Friday stating that he will not halt the development of the institution.
However, the university was established by his predecessor, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola on March 31, 2022 when he upgraded the state’s College of Education, Ilesa, to a full-fledged university.
Oyetola backed the establishment of the university with a law made on Sept. 27, 2022.
Inspecting the site of the university, Adeleke said the institution had come to stay and that his administration would soon release details of its plans for it.
“I am here to assess the actual state of the University of Ilesa and rub minds with our people on moving Ijeshaland forward.
“My goal is to ensure that the university is properly established just as the PDP government of former Gov. Olagunsoye Oyinlola did on the establishment of Osun State University.
“The review committee has submitted its report and I am issuing a White Paper,’’ he said.
Adeleke inaugurated an 11-man ad-hoc committee on Jan. 10 to review the establishment of the university.
He said the committee would review and assess funding requirements for the eventual take-off of the university.
He said the committee would ensure modalities for phased implementation such that faculties and courses of study would be matched with funding requirements at each phase.
Adeleke also frowned at illegal mining, which had polluted the water body in Ilesa.
He said government would soon issue a report on strategies to address water and environmental pollution in the area.