“I Am Not The Owner of Technical University” – Ajimobi

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has denied ownership of The First Technical University, Ibadan, saying it belongs to the state government wholly and not any individual, including himself. Ajimobi made the clarification on Monday, May 20 while receiving the state’s traditional rulers led by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.

The monarchs gathered, were on a courtesy visit to his (Ajimobi) office.

Other traditional rulers during the visit were Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola; Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdul-Ganiy Salawudeen; Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola; and Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin.
Ajimobi, while speaking used the occasion to avail the royal fathers of his administration’s achievements in education, agriculture, peace, security and infrastructure, among others in the last eight years.

He said the state government had not expended any fund on the establishment of the university till date, as all the structures in the institution’s premises were built by foreign donors and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Ajimobi said: “Let me use this opportunity to dispel the rumour going around that I am the owner of The First Technical University, Ibadan. People are expected to talk, especially when they lack proper information, but if we fail to dispel the rumour, it may stick and become the truth. I want to say without any equivocation that I do not own the Technical University, Ibadan. It belongs to Oyo State Government wholly. It is easy for people to come up with such rumour because of the successful establishment of the university.

“It is the first of its kind in Nigeria, and we are happy that we succeeded in achieving this in our time. Nobody believed we could achieve it, especially during a period the country was grappling with economic challenges. Oyo State has had no financial input in the establishment of the university till date. All what you see there were done by lovers of the state, indigenes living abroad, international institutions and the CBN.

“I give gratitude to the Almighty Allah for giving me the opportunity, in spite of my natural deficiencies as a human being.

“To serve humanity through the governance of Oyo State, which is unarguably the intellectual capital of Nigeria with highly politically-sophisticated people, is a rare privilege. I appreciate you all our royal fathers and indeed, the entire people of the state immensely, because you made it possible for us to govern the state with uncommon success in the last eight years.”

Nigerian Monitor