Governor Adeleke Allocates N4 Billion to Ilesa University

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilesa, Prof. Taiwo Asaolu, announced on Friday that the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has allocated over N4 billion to the university over the past twenty months for resource verification, renovations, and infrastructure upgrades.

Prof. Asaolu made this statement during the commissioning of a fully equipped Nursing Laboratory building, worth N180 million, which was donated to the university by the Ijesa community. He highlighted that the governor’s financial support has allowed the university to secure 67 National Universities Commission (NUC) approved programs.

“We have also been able to present 23 academic programs under the University of Ilesa and 9 programs under the University of Ibadan’s Bachelor of Education Degree programs for accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC),” he said.

“Mr. Governor has indeed paid adequate and appropriate attention to the growth and development of UNILESA. His Excellency has consistently assured us that he will continue to support UNILESA.”

During his remarks about the donated laboratory, the Vice-Chancellor noted that the facility would provide nursing students with essential practical training.

Prof. Asaolu expressed gratitude to the Ijesa community for their generous contribution, emphasizing that the university is dedicated to maintaining high academic standards.

“This laboratory will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts to ensure quality education by exposing our nursing students to top-notch practical training, which is the hallmark of any effective teaching and learning process,” he stated.

“The need for a standard Nursing Sciences Laboratory was emphasized during the resource verification by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria last year. We assured the Council that we would provide a well-equipped laboratory, and this has been achieved through the laudable intervention of the Ijesa community.”

The Vice-Chancellor further mentioned that new programs have been approved by the University Senate and will soon be submitted to the National Universities Commission for approval.

“Please let me inform you that our Senate has approved additional programs, including Medicine and Surgery, Early Childhood Care Education, Special Education, French Language, Chinese Studies, Yoruba Language, and Agricultural Sciences. These programs will soon be presented to the NUC for resource verification and are expected to commence in the 2025/2026 academic session,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Ijesa community clarified that the donation, made under the Ijesa Endowment Fund, was intended to assist the state government in raising the university to global standards.

At the official handover of the building, the chairman of the endowment fund, Chief Akinwande Akinola, stated that the laboratory is fully furnished and ready for use by students.

“We planned that the building, which we started from scratch, would be completed and delivered within six months. By the grace of God and the unwavering determination of the Ijesa people, we achieved that feat,” Akinola said.

“It is expected that with this handover today, in anticipation of the resumption of students next Monday, the 6th of January, the laboratory, now fully furnished, will be put to immediate and active use.”

“We use this opportunity to appreciate the Ijesa men and women of immeasurable determination who made financial contributions to the Endowment Fund. We pray that God, in His kindness, will continue to bless them even as we plead with them not to relent in their support for the university.”

He also encouraged students to take good care of the building and make proper use of it.

In his speech, the Pro-Chancellor of the University, Gbenga Onigbogi, acknowledged the significant contributions made by the Ijesa community toward the university’s growth.

“This donation fulfills the assurance of the Ijesa community to support the growth of UNILESA. I strongly believe this laboratory will significantly enhance teaching, learning, and academic excellence at the University of Ilesa,” he said.

“The Ijesa community has invested approximately N180 million in this project, with N150 million allocated for constructing the building and N30 million for equipping the laboratory,” he emphasized.