Following a visit to the LAUTECH Iseyin campus on Friday, Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has assured that the challenges hindering the smooth operation of the campus would soon be addressed
The governor gave the assurance after engaging with students, management, and community representatives at the campus, which houses the College of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources. According to him, stakeholders agreed to reconvene in Ibadan next month to further deliberate on the issues and work towards lasting solutions.In a statement shared on social media, Makinde said the visit was in fulfillment of an earlier promise to assess concerns affecting the campus. He noted that discussions with students, university management, and community leaders were productive, adding that the government is committed to resolving the identified problems.
During the visit, students’ representatives listed several challenges confronting them, including poor infrastructure, lack of laboratories and research farms, absence of practical farm training in crops and livestock, inadequate lecture halls, poor security, and insufficient office spaces for lecturers. They lamented that many lecturers remain in Ogbomoso due to lack of facilities, leaving students stranded in Iseyin.
While acknowledging the existence of challenges, the university management, led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rasak Olatunde ROM Kalilu and Provost Prof. Abel Ogunwale, described the problems as teething issues and highlighted steps already being taken to address them. The governor, however, confirmed that another all-inclusive meeting would be held in Ibadan by mid-January.
Makinde also directed that movable equipment such as tractors be transferred from Ogbomoso to Iseyin to enhance students’ practical exposure, noting that construction works were ongoing at the campus. He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to fix the problems, recalling that prolonged academic delays at the university had been tackled under his administration.
Reports indicate that the Iseyin campus has faced persistent challenges since its establishment in 2023, largely due to skepticism among students and lecturers over the relocation of an existing faculty to a new site. Critics had earlier suggested creating a new faculty or institution instead, concerns which have now manifested in operational difficulties affecting teaching and learning.
Analysts have since proposed that the campus be converted into an agricultural institute or an independent institution, especially given the proximity of the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO). They argue that prospective students may prefer a federal university to a struggling satellite campus, adding that the Iseyin community may be inclined toward a different academic model altogether.
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