Students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) have been given a cause to smile as Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, announced a reduction of 25 per cent from the tuition fees they had been paying.
The governor made the announcement during an unscheduled visit to the institution in Ogbomoso, assuring that the reduction would cut across all students, irrespective of their statuses.
Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, who disclosed the governor’s move in a statement, said that Makinde expressed thanks to the students for the warm reception accorded him despite the impromptu nature of his visit.
Expressing his happiness at fulfilling the promise of securing the sole ownership of LAUTECH for the pacesetter state, Makinde said: “I am glad to be back among you. After the 2019 election, I should have returned to say thank you to you but I didn’t want to come until I fulfill what I promised you, which is the sole ownership of LAUTECH by Oyo State.
“I am still coming back to spend the night here and we will really celebrate then, but I can leave you with a parting gift for today. Let me tell you, the LAUTECH fee is still the lowest in the entire South-West.
“Having said that, I will reduce your fee across board; whether indigenes or non-indigenes, even new students. There will be a reduction of 25 per cent across board.”
The governor recalled part of his electioneering campaign, which was to fix Under-G/ Stadium road with street light, so as to prevent students from being molested, robbed and killed by miscreants, remarking that the road had been completed and now being used by residents and students.
The governor stated further that henceforth, a four-year programme in LAUTECH would not be turned to eight years again.
He said: “Securing of the sole ownership of the University means never again will a four-year programme turn into an 8-year programme in LAUTECH.”
The governor, who equally spoke at the commissioning of the High Dependency Unit of the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, said that his administration would construct a befitting flyover in Ogbomoso.
He reassured the 170 staff of the teaching hospital, who were relieved of their employment by the previous administration but re-engaged by the current one, that the current government would pay their five months salary arrears.
