Adeleke Inaugurates Landmark Projects At UNILESA, Reaffirms Commitment To Higher Education

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State on Tuesday inaugurated a series of landmark infrastructure projects at the University of Ilesa (UNILESA), reaffirming his administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality higher education and strengthening academic institutions across the state.

The projects commissioned include remodeled Faculty of Law and Faculty of Public Health buildings, reconstructed internal road network, new student hostel facilities, a female medical hostel, and a new Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences building.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony at the university campus in Ilesa, Governor Adeleke described the institution as one of the major achievements of his administration, saying the government had transformed what was once a proposal into a fully operational university with a solid legal and administrative foundation.

He said his administration enacted the law establishing the university, secured accreditation for several academic programmes, appointed experienced administrators, and successfully oversaw the transition from the defunct Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, to a full-fledged university without disrupting staff welfare.

According to the governor, the government also converted over 300 contract staff inherited from the former college to permanent and pensionable appointments, settled outstanding staff allowances, approved and implemented new salary structures for academic staff, effected staff promotions with financial backing, and paid arrears as well as outstanding half salaries and withheld cooperative deductions.

Adeleke acknowledged the financial constraints facing the state but stressed that his administration remained committed to investing in education and critical infrastructure.

He said the projects being commissioned reflected the government’s determination to provide a conducive learning environment capable of producing globally competitive graduates.

“I am delighted to attend this landmark event. Within a short period, the University has taken its rightful place in the Nigerian university system. I congratulate the Governing Council, the Vice-Chancellor and the management for demonstrating exceptional managerial and academic capacity,” the governor said.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu, described the governor’s visit as historic, noting that it was the first time the university’s Visitor would personally commission projects on campus.

He disclosed that within three years of operation, the institution had grown to 12 faculties, one College of Health Sciences, 110 academic programmes and more than 15,000 students.

According to him, the rapid growth has significantly contributed to the socio-economic development of Ijesaland and Osun State.

Prof. Asaolu attributed the university’s progress to sustained government support, including the release of take-off grants, funding for National Universities Commission resource verification exercises, annual capital allocations, provision of a 500KVA transformer, improved staff welfare, implementation of a new salary structure for academic staff, and the conversion of the State General Hospital, Ilesa, into the University’s Teaching Hospital.

He expressed optimism that the institution would graduate its first set of students next year, describing the forthcoming convocation as another milestone in the university’s history.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Governing Council, Hon. Gbenga Onigbogi, said the commissioned facilities represented strategic investments in teaching, research, innovation and human capital development.
He assured the governor that the Governing Council would ensure transparency, accountability and proper maintenance of the new facilities.

Onigbogi also acknowledged the significant contributions of the Ijesa community to the development of the university, highlighting ongoing construction of a 100-bed student hostel by the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, the university gate by the Ijesa Elders Forum, a Nursing Sciences Laboratory, a Law Moot Court, solar street lights, an Entrepreneurship Centre, donated law books and several endowed academic prizes.

He further disclosed that the Ijesa Golf and Country Club had constructed an 18-hole golf course valued at about ₦2 billion within the university campus.

The event attracted members of the State Executive Council, federal and state lawmakers, traditional rulers, community leaders, university management, staff, students and other dignitaries, who described the projects as significant milestones in the rapid development of the state’s youngest university.