𝐎𝐲𝐨 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐚 𝐀𝐣𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐛𝐢 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭-𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧

The Oyo State House of Assembly has called on the management of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University to expedite action on submitting the institution’s Model Financial Sustainable Plan to Governor Seyi Makinde for consideration and approval, as part of efforts to boost the university’s financial independence.

The appeal formed part of the recommendations presented on Thursday by the Chairman, House Committee on Education (Tertiary Institutions, Science and Technology), Hon. Oluwafemi Fowokanmi, during plenary.

The report followed the Assembly’s directive to the Committee to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of the university to improve its operational capacity and help it achieve long-term sustainability.

Presenting the findings before Deputy Speaker Hon. Muhammed Fadeyi, Hon. Fowokanmi explained that the Committee had engaged with the university’s management, led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Adesola Ajayi, who provided updates on the institution’s status and challenges.

According to the report, the university last received a government grant in January 2018, and currently relies solely on the annual local government scholarship scheme for indigent students as its major source of revenue.

The lawmaker commended Governor Makinde for providing essential infrastructure, including a gatehouse, enhanced security, and improved road networks within the institution.

He appealed to the governor to consider increasing the local government scholarship allocation from five to ten students per council annually, noting that such a move would boost enrollment and strengthen the university’s operational capacity.

The report further urged the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to engage TETFUND to stop the joint allocation of intervention funds to both Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, advocating for separate yearly allocations to support their distinct mandates.

While applauding the university’s management for its resilience despite funding constraints, Hon. Fowokanmi called on philanthropists and well-meaning Nigerians to support the institution through endowment funds, infrastructure development, and investments in innovation and technology centres.