By Dipo Olowookere
A central library, blocks of lecture and administrative buildings have been handed over to the Oyo State government by the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) as part of its intervention towards the education sector in the state.
The buildings were received on behalf of the state government by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olalekan Alli; the Pro-Chancellor of TechU, Ibadan, Professor Oladapo Afolabi; Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela; Commissioner for Finance, Mr Abimbola Adekanmbi; Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Toye Arulogun; and other top government functionaries.
While receiving the project documents during the handover of the buildings on Thursday at the permanent site of the institution, Mr Alli assured that the state will embark on additional developments on the 200-hectare university, adding that adequate security will be provided around the vicinity of the institution and the state as a whole.
The SSG, who appreciated the CBN for its intervention in TechU, Oyo state, assured that the buildings donated would be put to adequate use by the university authorities.
“We appreciate the efforts of the apex bank to support and develop our education sector. The CBN has showed that education is key to the development of country. We say thank you to the management and the entire staff of the bank for this gesture and assure that the building will be adequately put to use immediately,” he said.
Mr Alli noted that the state government was committed to the establishment of TechU as part of its transformation of the education sector in the state and consequently expressed the firm belief that the first set of students will matriculate in September 2017.
In his remarks, the CBN Branch Controller, Lagos Branch, Mr Omebere Iyari, commended the Oyo State government for the initiative of TechU, Ibadan, saying that the unique institution will revolutionize technical skills development and education in the country.
He explained that the intervention has showed that CBN is beyond monetary and fiscal policies, stressing that the Apex bank has a lot of intervention in education, agriculture and other sectors of the economy.
The buildings, which are constructed on about 1.455 hectares of land, donated to TechU, Ibadan by the apex bank include central e-library space for 500 students with 10 numbers of offices, 12 numbers of toilet facilities as well as block of 24 lectures room which has 11 numbers administrative offices, furniture, borehole, generating set, street lights, CCTV camera, air conditioners and additional toilets facilities for male and female students.
