How did UNIOSUN open other five campuses if there were no projects executed under Aregbesola? Between 2008 and 2018, Osun State University (Uniosun) opened other campuses and are located in five other towns ( Ejigbo, Ifetedo, Ikire, Ipetu-Ijesa and Okuku) spread across the six geopolitical zones of the State after several projects have be executed. Licensed on 21 December, 2006, it opened its doors to full academic activities on 21 September 2007 and it has continued to make steady progress in the development of facilities and human resource to match the growing needs of the institution during Aregbesola’s 8 years rule.
Human capital development project in Uniosun was the first major intervention by Rauf Aregbesola as governor of Osun State when he approved N152.9million to sponsor 92 uniosun medical students to Ukraine. The former Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola approved a sum of N152.9 million to sponsor ninety two(92) medical students, from 300 to 500 levels, of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) who got stagnated in their academic activities because there was no Teaching Hospital to cater for their needs. A statement that in Aregbesola’s eight years, no project was executed by ASUU at UNIOSUN is a questionable and sweeping statement calculated to tarnish the image of Rauf Aregbesola.
It would be recalled that Governor Rauf Aregbesola had in 2013 approved a sum of N152 million to support the medical education of 85 students of the UNOSUN to Ukraine National University so as to aid the transfer of the medical students whose academic activities were stopped due to non-availability of medical facilities and lack of a university teaching hospital.
As Governor. AREGBESOLA COMMISSIONED UNIOSUN ACCESS ROAD . Governor Aregbesola, in his remarks, thanked Dr. Alakija for assisting the government to complete the access road for the University. The project was started by Osun State government. Aregbesola invested in human capital at Uniosun by sponsoring medical students to Ukraine. The state facilitated the programme in fulfilment of the Aregbesola’s administration of providing quality and functional education to youth of the state at all levels.
Throughout the eight years of former Governor Aregbesola Uniosun embarked on several projects like the University Central Library, the Engineering complex both on the main campus, the pre-degree complex in Ejigbo and other structures across the six campuses among others. Throughout the eight years of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and till date, the University with the concurrence of the state government has embarked on several building projects like the University Central Library, the Engineering complex, both on the main campus, the pre-degree complex in Ejigbo, and other structures across the six campuses among others. the above-named projects and the procurement of much-needed equipment and facilities as well as funding of academic departments and sponsorship of staff members to conferences and trainings were funded through IGR which again is considered as public funds by the university management. Osun State University, Nigeria main campus is located in Osogbo, the capital of the State of Osun,
Aregbesola huge investment in education was not limited to Uniosun and it has eliminated infrastructure gaps and inconsistency in education in Osun. Section 18 (1) of the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as amended states that government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels. Section 18(3) notes that government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy; and to this end Government shall as and when practicable provide (a) free, compulsory and universal primary education; (b) free secondary education; (c) free university education; and (d) free adult literacy programme. These rights are hardly enforced, and many are still required to pay for their education.
The Osun government’s huge investment in education sector has removed the dilapidated, school buildings and in conducive learning environment. Of the 100 Elementary Schools, 50 Middle Schools and 11 High Schools in the infrastructure upgrade under the first phase, government has successfully commissioned 20 Elementary Schools, 22 Middle Schools, and 11SUKUK High Schools.
Former Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has changed Osun school curriculum from studying to acquire certificates to studying to acquire knowledge and skills. This is the basis of the educational reforms in the state. Before Aregbesola’s reform, students were studying mainly to obtain certificates rather than to acquire knowledge and skills. Students who once lacked access to modern-day digital tools are now fully exploiting the internet, interactive apps, online courses, and computing technology as part of their daily lessons, opening doors to new opportunities and a promising future.
Former Governor Aregbesola has identified the link between knowledge and economic miracles which is education, and has built and equipped schools in Osun with huge investment in education. The huge investment in education is a strategic foresight. The more educated a workforce is, the more it is able to absorb knowledge and translate it into economic growth. Aregbesola has said that the world is moving towards the use of knowledge rather than wealth to measure success, adding that those who invested in education stood the chance of becoming rich. Osun huge investment in education is a strategic foresight which has taken education beyond classroom. Aregbesola said, “What differentiates human beings from animals is education aside from good manners. In the history of mankind, those who lead the human race are usually the most knowledgeable.”
The intervention of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the education sector in Osun state has helped to secure the future of the state. The education policy of Osun is in tandem with that of the federal government which aims at improving school enrolment. Aregbesola has turned the state into a true metropolitan state emphasised that what the administration of the present government has done in the education sector is more than that of any state. The construction of modern school structures around the state coupled with the school Feeding programme of the state is capable of getting out of school children back to school just like the federal ministry of education has been clamouring for. Rauf Aregbesola has invested in public school education if the nation will have peace and move forward. His government decided to invest heavily in the public school education because of the realization that failure to this is planning for a future of doom. The former governor stressed that the children of the poor also deserves to attend good schools. He emphasised that the past glory of public schools needs to be rekindled for the benefit of all, noting that public school buildings used to be the best structures in the community before past governments neglected it.
Whether critics like it or not, former Governor Aregbesola has laid the foundation and remains the pioneer of digital education in Nigeria and he represents an agent of change as far as digital education is concerned in Nigeria. The history of Digital Education will remember Governor Aregbesola as the first Nigerian to implement the UNESCO recommendation on digital education. Nigerians need to visit Osun Sukuk Schools, Middle Schools and Elementary Schools. Governor Aregbesola has undertaken to build and equip schools with computer classrooms and training teachers to use digital media in education. In this line, Opon Imo “local content’’ in digital education has allowed teachers to use tablets to teach students. In the history of Nigeria, Governor Aregbesola will be remembered as the first leader to introduce digital education. Like India, Osun State is working to improve on Opon Imo. In years to come, Governor Aregbesola will be remembered as part of digital education in Nigeria.
There is no doubt that Governor Aregbesola understands the role that technology can play in realising the vision for Nigeria’s growth – it is at the core of the Digital Opon Imo and a key driver across all plans devised by the Osun State government over the last four years. The government recognises the transformative power of technology and sees it as an enabler for the change that we all seek – be it in delivering better citizen services, digitising education records, efficient and productive functioning, or using technology to provide a new social security platform
Until recently many students in Osun had never touched a tablet computer. But it took them about “one minute to work out how to use one when such devices arrived at Osun schools. Osun students were no slower to embrace the new tool. Teaching used to be conducted with a blackboard and a handful of tattered textbooks. Now children in groups of five take turns to swipe the touch screen of the devices, which are loaded with a multimedia version of Nigeria’s syllabus.
The State Government of Osun, under the leadership of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, in its resolve to champion inspiring innovations for Africa, has undertaken a ground breaking step to utilise ICTs to concisely tackle the learning problem through the Opón Ìmò Initiative.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Inwalomhe Donald writes from Osogbo [email protected]
