The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has revealed some of the plans he has for the education sector in the state if he wins the governorship election coming up in March.
Adelabu who was guest on Political Circuit, a live programme on Fresh FM, Ibadan on Saturday, addressed issues around teachers’ welfare, schools’ infrastructure, tertiary institutions in the state and the dual ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH).
LAUTECH
The governorship candidate expressed disapproval at the Oyo-Osun joint ownership of LAUTECH. According to him, the present ownership structure of the institution makes it difficult for any of the owners to show total responsibility.
He said his administration will do everything to sever the joint ownership. “Osun will have to decide whether they want it fully or release it to us.” he said. “LAUTECH used to be the best state university at some time. Our government will ensure that it returns to its past status.”
Primary, secondary schools and their teachers
Adelabu explained that he plans to reform the state’s education sector by ensuring changes to the school’s curricula, massive renovation of schools, and teachers’ welfare. “I can tell you that our children spend more time with their teachers than with their parents. So, the teachers have a lot of roles to play in moulding the children. So, we are going to give them extra pecks apart from prompt payment of salaries”, he declared.
Funding for tertiary institutions
The former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) promised that if elected, his administration will continue to fund tertiary institutions in the state but work towards making them autonomous and self-funding.
“We’ll continue to fund tertiary institutions but we need to have a plan whereby they’ll become autonomous. Even if it is a 10-year plan.” He mentioned revenue generating services, school fees and funding from international donors as some of the elements that could be in the plan for the schools.
During the two hour programme, Adelabu also revealed that he would pursue industrial developments along the corridors of the circular road in the Ibadan City Master Plan as well as the resuscitation of the farm settlements in the state to boost agriculture. According to him, Oyo state has comparative advantage in agriculture.
He revealed further that he would focus on three sectors – health, agriculture and education.
