One Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty-Three 200 Level students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso are set to resume at the Iseyin Campus, by the end of October, 2023, despite ongoing public outcry by students who are lamenting the outrageous rent fees charged by landlords and agents in the area.
Following the commissioning of the Iseyin campus by Governor Seyi Makinde last month, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, on Tuesday disclosed that October 23, 2023 is the opening date for the second semester in the college of Agricultural Science and Renewable Natural Resources, Iseyin.
Recall that on Monday, students who are expectedly settling down into the new environment decried the exorbitant rent rates charged by landlords and agents in Iseyin alleging that some landlords in the community charge as high as N180,000 two years rent for a student accomodation.
However, Dr. Ajuwon; a member of the committee constituted to see to students/community relationship in the new campus has refuted the claim as “unfounded and baseless”.
According to him,the students and staff have been advised by the LAUTECH College Management to liaise with a standing Committee set up by the Chairman of Iseyin Local Government on LAUTECH matters.
” No student has reported to the Committee so far. For your information, the Committee has sourced enough accommodation for all the students and the prices are not as unreasonable as being suggested except for those who want to stay in a 3 bedroom flat. Even 3 bedroom flats are in some cases not as expensive as #180,000. We have held meetings with the Agents and landlords in order to secure their cooperation. The LAUTECH management team are also involved in all these arrangements. Please, ignore the antics of the misguided elements who are playing the scripts of their sponsors.” He said.
Corroborating Dr. Ajuwon, Al Hazan Abiodun who is an insider described the outcry as “a blatant lie” adding that the special committee set up to see to the ease of the students resumption has gone round the community to scout for comfortable accommodation (with water, security, toilet system etc) and held meetings with landlords of many of these structures as well as ‘agents’ on the need to give the LAUTECH students cheap rent.
He said: “It is necessary that I tell you sir, that before the establishment of LAUTECH campus in Iseyin, there has existed two other tertiary institutions, although private (SAF Polytechnic and Oke-Ogun College of Health Technology), their students in totality are more than three thousand and they have been existing in the town for over six years.
“The appeal of these students is in bad faith as no landlord in Iseyin will charge #120,000 or even #100,000 for a room apartment.” He said.
However, the Commissioner recalled that his counterpart in the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Saliu Adelabu has held series of meetings with the Pro- Chancellor, Prof. Deji Omole and the Ag. Vice-chancellor to ensure the realisation of the students’ resumption.
According to him, the resumption is significant because since April, 2023 when Oyo State Government announced the movement of the Agriculture Faculty to Iseyin, commencement of lecture for the 200 level students will now formally begin.
“Last week Thursday, the Ag. Vice-chancellor, Prof. Rasaq Olatunde Kalilu led the institution’s management team, to a meeting with stakeholders, where community leaders pledged their absolute support for the resumption and promised, to do all in their power to ensure comfortable stay of the coming students.” He said.
Prince Oyelade said agreement was reached on affordable accommodation, transportation and security measures in anticipation of their resumption.
“Some of the lecturers, who may not secure immediate accomodation within Iseyin township, have made arrangements, to come from their Ogbomoso base on daily basis.
“This is made feasible, because the newly constructed 76km Ogbomoso-Iseyin road, is 55 minutes drive.” He said.
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