The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso is a project that must not fail. The school which has once been the pride of old Oyo State must not be left to crash at this stage when the two partnering states have left the institution to rot.
This school have produced brilliant minds but now it has turned to a virtual battleground where academic, non-academic staff and students have been rendered hopeless based on the tussle between the two states. The two states involved have no moral right to own other universities when this project cannot be sustained. The assets of the school should have been shared since the creation of Osun State- moreso, the Teaching Hospital in Oshogbo and the other arms of the University in Ogbomoso.
The present predicament of the school is uncalled for, the students that have been locked out of the school for no just cause should be pitied. There are many young people in other nations of the world now that have left the shores of Nigeria during protracted industrial actions that is customary to the Nigeria educational sector.
The Governor Isiaka Abiola Ajumobi led administration should look into how to resuscitate the University that bears the name of a foremost leader located in the historical town of Ogbomoso. The school cannot remain locked based on a deadlock between the two states. The PPP investment that is being sort for the newly Technical University should be not either replace Lautech or be given priority at the expense of Lautech.
A similar situation had happened in the old Ondo State. Ondo and Ekiti States had the University of Ado-Ekiti and when the Ekiti State was carved out of the old Ondo State, the university was ceded to the new state while Ondo State went to build another university. Incidentally, Federal Government maintained Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Ibadan in the old Oyo State, as such, the Oyo State Government must be ready to keep nurturing the two universities concurrently without any rift.
The children of the masses should not be totally denied access to quality education. If a state owned institution rot away, then a large chunk of the society has been disenfranchised.
The immediate past administration of Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala did everything to ensure that it takes ownership of the University campus at Ogbomoso from Osun State while the state takes ownership of the Osogbo Teaching Hospital but people felt it was because the Governor hails from Ogbomoso but it is now obvious that it is for the collective good of the masses.
Lautech must rise again- Lautech must keep training student, Lautech should be fully shared amongst the two states and Lautech alumni must continue to make Nigeria proud!