Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, revealed that works would commence on Agbowo Shopping Complex, stating that the project remains important to his administration as it is part of its agenda to resuscitate the state’s assets.
Governor Makinde stated this on Saturday while unveiling the billboard commemorating the UI @ 75 anniversary on the University Campus.
The governor promised that the contractor of the project will move to site in the next few weeks, just as he promised to carry out the Junction Improvement of the University of Ibadan Main Gate with a pedestrian bridge to link Agbowo axis.
He solicited for continuous support and cooperation of the University of Ibadan community, urging it to be patient, as according to him, the disruption of free flow of traffic will be inevitable once the projects start.
The governor, while congratulating the school management in achieving milestones, noted that the University of Ibadan was renowned as the intellectual capital of not just Nigeria but the African continent and had produced intelligent personalities beyond the shores of the country.
He noted that the ideas incubated in the institution of learning are well-recognised by most leaders in the Southern and Eastern parts of Africa, as they all have good things to say about the University of Ibadan.
However, Governor Makinde charged the management of the University to begin the process of regaining its position as the intellectual capital of the continent by resetting the buttons.
Speaking further, the governor said he deliberately appointed University of Ibadan products into different positions in order to harness the opportunities of sound training provided by the University and unleash them into the governance environment.
He said: “It is an honour for me to be here this afternoon for the unveiling of the University of Ibadan @ 75 anniversary billboard.
“As the Vice Chancellor said, today is not a day for long speeches, I said I will just make maybe one or two points only.
“I congratulate you on the occasion of UI @75, my only message is that this very campus used to be the intellectual capital of the continent not only of Nigeria. The ideas incubated here are taken far and wide and most leaders, especially from the Southern and Eastern parts of Africa, all have one thing or the other to say, one interaction or the other to say about the University of Ibadan.
“So, my charge is that at 75, we want to reset the buttons, we want UI to again start the process of regaining that position of becoming once again the intellectual capital of the continent.
“Just as it has been said by the school bursar that I have several of UI products working with me, it is not an happenstance, it was deliberate, because with this campus here, we are supposed to get the benefits of the things that are being incubated here and also the individuals that are making it happen.
“So, what we have done in Oyo State and under this administration, is to look at the lions at our backyard and to unleash them in our environment, and so far so good, it has been working very well.
“Whatever we can do as an administration towards making UI the intellectual capital in the continent, I will be your partner.”
He continued: “The project that the Oyo State government is carrying out, which is the junction improvement at UI will be expanded and we would put a pedestrian bridge so that when students are passing, they don’t have to get knocked down again, that would enhance the refurbishment of the Agbowo Shopping Complex.
“It is a life project, it would happen and you will see the contractor on site within a few weeks. I don’t think it would be more than four weeks, but they must get to that site and this time next year, it would be a typically different story.
“I wanted to make that point and also to solicit for the cooperation of the University Community, because when you are carrying out construction activities, it would disrupt the free flow of traffic. But it’s just for a period of time, at the end of that period, it is something that you all would be proud of.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of the UI @ 75 anniversary committee, Professor Peter Olapegba, described the governor as a true partner in progress.
He thanked him for being a wonderful host as demonstrated through positive disposition and significant benefaction to the University of Ibadan.
