Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has expressed dismay at the inability of the Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology (MAUTECH) to take off, two years after it was established.
Governor Abiodun, who stated this at his office in Abeokuta while inaugurating the panel on MAUTECH and Ogun State Polytechnic (OGUNPOLY), also expressed worry over the uncertainty surrounding the survival of the old Polytechnic.
“What is befuddling is that two years down the lane, even if one could pardon the inability of the new University to take off, the uncertainty surrounding the survival of the old Polytechnic could not be ignored”, he said.
The Governor described education as the pride industry of the State, saying, to achieve the mission of building the State together, it was expedient for his administration to give qualitative education to the youths.
He said the Committee was set up to look into all issues surrounding the sustainability of both MAUTECH and OGUNPOLY, adding that his administration would also beam it searchlight into other sub-sectors of education in the State.
“While the Committee is to holistically review the status, viability and sustainability of these institutions, it is also expected to recommend operational modalities for these institutions, after interfacing with stakeholders in the education sector”, the Governor stated.
The terms of reference of the Committee, according to the Governor are; identify issues and challenges related to the establishment and operations of the two institutions, determine the viability and sustainability of the institutions on a long time basis, identify any other issues related to the objectives of the assignment and make recommendations for consideration.
Responding on behalf of other members, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Segun Awonusi, thanked the State Government for the confidence reposed in them, adding that they would key into the administration’s passion for the reform in the education sector.
Other members of the Committee are; Alhaji Waheed Kadiri, Prof. Joseph Odemuyiwa, Dr. Abiodun Oluseye, Barr. Abeeb Wale Ajayi, Mr. H.O. Ayoade, while Dr. Waheed Olanloye will serve as the secretary.
The Committee has eight weeks to submit its report
Meanwhile, Ogun State government says it was putting machinery in place to reverse the misfortune confronting its first College of Education, Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu.
The State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun stated this when he inaugurated the panel on Tai Solarin College of Education at his office in Abeokuta, decried the current state of the College which was the pride of the State in the past, charging the Committee to identify the challenges confronting the institution and come up with implementable solutions to move the school forward.
Responding, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Kamal Balogun, while thanking the Governor for the opportunity given them to serve the State, said with the Calibre of people in the Committee, they were ready to do a thorough job that would help in restoring the lost glory of the College.
The Committee’s terms of reference are; assess the current status of the institution, with a view to ascertaining or otherwise of its objectives for the establishment, as well as the observance of the law that established it
Identify challenges militating against the attainment of the objectives for the establishment of the institution, review the relationship between various organs and critical stakeholders of the institution and the quality of leadership being provided.
Examine financial management of the institution and determine whether the funds from the various sources have been Prudently applied, determine actual staff on nominal roll, their existence, relevance qualifications and suggest way to reduce personnel cost, among others.
