Oyo State Government on Wednesday announced the postponement of the formal take-off of its Technical University, Ibadan, attributing it to the security situation in the country.
The development was announced at a joint press conference held at the State Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Ismail Olalekan Alli, and the Chairman of the Governing Council of the institution, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi.
It would be recalled that the university, established by the state government, had hitherto been scheduled to formally take-off with the admission of its new set of students in September 2014.
However, the SSG, at the press briefing, said that the institution would not be able to commence academic activities in September 2014 as earlier scheduled due to the recent upsurge and spread of insurgency resulting in general insecurity across the country.
He said that all the necessary arrangements had been put in place towards the take-off of the university in September part of which he said was the arrival of advance parties of the partner institution, that is, the Texas Technical University of the United States of America in April this year.
Mr. Alli, however, said that the advance parties were recalled by the partner institution in USA towards the end of last month, thus necessitating the shift in the take-off of the institution by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
“We have mutually agreed to watch the security development until January next year when we would review the situation and determine an appropriate take-off date,’’ the SSG said, adding, however, that the infrastructural development currently going on in the campuses of the university at Ajoda New Town, Egbeda and on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway would go on unhindered.
