'Why we upgraded Alayande College of Education to varsity'

• Published date: 18 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has said his administration upgraded Emmanuel Alayande College of Education (EACOED) to a university, to create a platform for training manpower to run the education sector.

He allayed the fears of those he described as critics on the capability of the government to fund the new university, saying the same method adopted to secure the sole ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso would be used.

Makinde spoke yesterday while inaugurating the Implementation Committee for Emmanuel Alayande University of Education.

He tasked the team to make the university the number one education degree awarding institution in Nigeria.

The committee is headed by Prof. Ayodeji Omole of the University of Ibadan.

Makinde said: 'Let me take this opportunity to address the criticisms some have raised regarding this institution. Some have asked why Oyo State needs another university because we already have LAUTECH. So, the concern is centred around how the university will be funded.

'Well, we had similar concerns when we started the process of getting the sole ownership of LAUTECH. When we came in as an administration, for LAUTECH, the system we met on ground was Oyo State paying the subvention from January to June, while Osun State paid from July to December. When I came in, I paid the one for May and June and was expecting that Osun would take over, but we were having stories.

'So, Prof...