Oyo State governor, ’Seyi Makinde, on Friday, immortalised his immediate predecessor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, by renaming the state-owned First Technical University, Ibadan after the late former governor.
He announced the change of the name of the university during his speech at the second Convocation Ceremony of the institution, held at the University Hall, First Technical University, on Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Governor Makinde, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, also declared that his administration will put the Governing Council of the institution in place before the end of April.
The governor, who is also the Visitor to the First Technical University, equally approved a Category 3 Primary Health Centre for the university.
He stated that the facility will provide continuous and comprehensive care for the students and the entire staff of the institution.
Makinde explained that his administration has increased access to education at all levels, including increasing the number of universities owned by Oyo State to three from one and a half universities in 2019.
He added that since 2019, there has been a significant improvement in the ranking of Oyo State by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The governor, while commending the efforts of the Management of the First Technical University, urged the graduands to be good ambassadors of the university and the state.
He said: “This is another notable day in the history of the First Technical University, Ibadan, as you host the second convocation ceremony for students in the different programmes in the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences and graduate the pioneer set of engineering students from this great institution.
“Looking at the progress this university has made from its humble beginnings, today is a good day to honour my predecessor, who established the university.
“So, we have made the decision to rename this university the Senator Abiola Ajimobi First Technical University, Ibadan.”
The governor added that his government has been able to do its bit to ensure that the university’s calendar has never been disrupted in the last four years of his administration.
He also seized the opportunity of the occasion to encourage the new graduates about life.
“Today will be a reference point for you, graduands. Some of you have been here for four years and some for five, but none of you have spent a semester more than you should because of any sort of strike action.
“This is the legacy of our administration to do our bit to ensure that the school calendar is never disrupted.
“As I stand here watching all graduands seated, I am taken back to the day I sat like you are sitting, thinking of what the future would bring for me.
“It was, for me, a mixture of excitement, expectation, anticipation and fear. I know many of you are feeling the same emotions.
“So let me share with you today a lesson I have learnt as the years passed. Just a little something from my life to encourage you as you leave school today, either to seek employment or to pursue another dream.
“Permit me to share this lesson based on a scripture in Ecclesiastes 3:6. The message translation puts it this way: “There is a right time to search and another to count your losses, a right time to hold on and another to let go.”’
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Adesola Ajayi, the governor’s presence has given a great encouragement to the entire university community.
He said this was more importantly to the pioneer engineering graduates and those coming behind them.
Professor Ajayi said the excellence achieved by the governor over the years, both in his private professional calling and in politics, has further helped to break the glass ceiling for young people and encouraged them to aspire to be whoever they dream to be.
Speaking further, the vice chancellor lauded the governor and the Oyo State government for the support they have given to the First Technical University.
He added that the Management of the institution has equally repaid the trust by sustaining commitment to adopt global best practices.
He said that out of 165 graduating students, 24 graduated with First Class, 76 with Second Class Honour (Upper Division), 52 graduated with Second Class Honour (Lower Division), while 13 others graduated with Third Class.
The vice chancellor said the university has been providing unique opportunities to less privileged students in the state to receive tertiary education.
According to him, two students who would have been denied admission into the conventional universities because of their low grades in JAMB were admitted into the institution and they graduated with First Class degrees.
