The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, honoured his late predecessor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on Friday by renaming the state-owned First Technical University, Ibadan, in his honour.
In his speech during the university’s 2nd Commencement Ceremony, which was held at First Technical University’s University Hall in Ibadan, Oyo State, on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Governor Makinde announced the name change.
According to a statement made by the governor’s chief press secretary, Mr Taiwo Adisa, Governor Makinde, who serves as the university’s Visitor, also vowed that his government would appoint the institution’s Governing Council before the end of April.
The governor also gave the university’s request for a Category 3 Primary Health Centre approval, adding that the facility will offer ongoing, all-encompassing treatment to the university’s workers and students.
The governor said that his administration raised the number of universities owned by Oyo State from one and a half to three in 2019 to demonstrate how his administration has enhanced access to education, including higher education.
He said that Oyo State’s standing in the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board has significantly improved since 2019 as well (JAMB).
Governor Makinde advised the graduates to be excellent representatives of the university and Oyo State while applauding the efforts of Tech-U Management.
He said: “This is another notable day in the history of the First Technical University, Ibadan, as you host the second convocation ceremony for students in the different programmes in the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences and graduate the pioneer set of engineering students from this great institution.
“Looking at the progress this university has made from its humble beginnings, today is a good day to honour my predecessor, who established the university. So, we have decided to rename this university the Senator Abiola Ajimobi First Technical University, Ibadan.”
The governor used the occasion to encourage the recent graduates about life, adding that his administration has been able to do its part to ensure that the university’s schedule has not been disrupted in the last four years.
“Today will be a reference point for you, graduands. Some of you have been here for four years and some for five, but none of you have spent a semester more than you should because of any sort of strike action. This is the legacy of our administration to do our bit to ensure that the school calendar is never disrupted.
“As I stand here watching all graduands seated, I am taken back to the day I sat like you are sitting, thinking of what the future would bring for me. It was, for me, a mixture of excitement, expectation, anticipation and fear. I know many of you are feeling the same emotions.
“So let me share with you today a lesson I have learnt as the years passed. Just a little something from my life to encourage you as you leave school today, either to seek employment or to pursue another dream.
“Permit me to share this lesson based on a scripture in Ecclesiastes 3:6. The Message translation puts it this way:
“There is a right time to search and another to count your losses, a right time to hold on and another to let go.”
Governor Makinde’s presence, according to the university’s vice chancellor, Prof. Adesola Ajayi, has greatly encouraged not only the entire campus community but also the original engineering graduates and others who would follow in their footsteps.
He continued by saying that the governor’s success over the years in both his political career and his professional endeavours has further aided in breaking the glass ceiling for young people and inspired them to pursue their dreams.
Prof. Ajayi continued by praising the governor and the Oyo State Government for their support of the university and noting that the management has reciprocated by maintaining its commitment to implementing international best practices.
