UNEDLAG: Epe/Oto-Awori rulers jostle on main location

Stakeholders and traditional rulers have taken a different turf on where to situate the proposed University of Education, Lagos (UNEDLAG),

While Oloto of Awori Kingdom, HRM Oba Dr Josiah Olanrewaju prefers it being sited in his domain the Alara of Ilara HRM Oba Folarin Ogunsanwo on Tuesday advance reasons why Epe axis needs it more than the Badagry area, where he noted is concentrated and poses unimaginable problems if allowed to take root there.

The discordant tune occurred during a public hearing organized by the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Education (Tertiary) at the Pavilion, Alausa Ikeja.

The hearing was on “A Bill for a Law to provide for the Establishment of the University of Education, Lagos (UNEDLAG) and for connected purposes.” aimed at transmuting the present Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Otto/Ijanikin and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Noforija, Epe, into a university.

Stakeholders at the event had alluded to the growing demand for university education as other  tertiary forms of education lose desirability in the country.

In his submission, Oba Folarin argued that with the large expanse of land available in Epe, the take off site for the university should be situated in Epe division of the State.

The royal father also noted that the proximity of University of Lagos (LASU) to AOCOED would have considerable impact on traffic along the LASU-Ojo route.

“Today history is being made. I’m speaking on behalf of all royal fathers in Epe division. The proposed university is deepening the third pillar of the THEMES agenda of the State Governor. Education is the best legacy we can bequeath to our children.”

While arguing that NCE certificate was fast going into oblivion, he stated, “It is right for the university to be sited in MOCPED Epe, It is difficult to have two universities along the same corridor. There is sizable expanse of land in Epe. This will provide befitting structures and make peope to study under conducive atmosphere. I urge the government to look at this side,” Oba Ogunsanwo posited.

However, the Oloto of Awori, Oba Olanrewaju cautioned the State Goverment not to dabble into unnecessary controversy, saying the Badagry division had been clamouring for the upgrade of AOCOED for over twenty years.

The royal father who spoke in Yoruba, appealed to the State Goverment not to dash the hope of the people in the area, arguing that the take off site should be domiciled in Ijanikin.

According to him, “We have been clamouring for this in the last twenty years. You, members of the House of Assembly have been doing what you are elected for, your representation, no doubt is pleasing to us. We should be careful, we should not allow conspiracy to destroy this lofty idea. Inasmuch as the university is located in Ijanikin, it is also in Lagos. We have achieved  this kind of a feat in the past, this should not be an exemption.”

Earlier in his welcome address the Chairman House Committee on Tiertiary Education Hon. Ajani Owolabi notes that the essence of the Universities being proposed is to advance the production qualitative teachers and instructors.

“It is to improve the status,not just for inclusion sake, so only the best will be in charge at the institution.

In his response, the Deputy Speaker, Hon Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni who spoke on behalf of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said the House would not dabble into the fray, saying what it is interested in is to do what will be interest of the State.

“The House will not join the fray. The arguement is neither here nor there. It is what is in the interest of the State that will be done, we cannot support one community against the other,” Obasa noted.

While giving the overview of the Bill, the Leader of the House, Hon Sanai Agunbiade said there are 53 sections  in the proposed law.

According to him, section 44 which expressly afforded how funds will be generated maximally catered for the  funding of the institution.

It reads, “Local Government in the State shall contribute two percent of their Financial Allocation to tertiary institution in the State such that not less than sixty percent of such money should be given to tertiary Universities owned by the State, for the purpose of educational development (Academic and Physical).

In his take on the place the main campus is likely to be sited, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab Special Adviser to the Governor on Education,notes that it is a mundane issue that need no debate as the major stakeholders that is the Governor and Speaker will jointly decide.

On why UNEDLAG establishment as well as the University for Science and Technology is apt, Wahab maintained that, “Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu came with the THEMES agenda with Education and Technology as the third pillar thought about Lagos as the 21st century economy, you can’t have such status and brandish NCE certificates.

“Most of us knows the truth which is this certificate has become obsolete, now this government is recruiting teachers, we’ve just closed the portal now by TESCOM, what is the minimum requirement?

So it is in zinc with that that we are looking ahead for the future.

“That is for the two NCE issuing colleges of education Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education at Ijanikin and the one in Epe Micheal Otedola College of Primary Education,now for the Polytechnic,we inherited it from our colonial masters and truth be told, United Kingdom has abolished Polytechnic education for about thirty years or there about now, people with HND had to do conversion for two years,six semesters in University to have a BSc with it,so why not give them that access from the beginning? So for us it is about moving in zinc with time and the future.”

“Thirdly LASU has a limited carrying capacity as the only University we have, 22million people LASU alone is not enough for us. So these are the reasons and we thank God the Assembly in Lagos State,a proactive one led by the Rt Hon. Speaker is helping us to bring this to light for the benefits of Lagosians,now and in the future.” Said Wahab.