Stakeholders Disagree Over Location of Proposed Lagos State University of Education

Two traditional rulers; Oloto of Oto Awori Kingdom, HRM Oba Dr Josiah Olanrewaju and Alara of Ilara-mokin, HRM Oba Folarin Ogunsanwo on Tuesday disagreed over the take off site for the proposed University of Education, Lagos (UNEDLAG).

The disagreement occurred during a public hearing organized by the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Education (Tertiary) at the Pavilion, Alausa Ikeja.

The hearing was on “A Bill for a Law to provide for the Establishment of the University of Education, Lagos (UNEDLAG) and for connected purposes.”

The bill aims at converting the present Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Otto/Ijanikin and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Noforija, Epe, to a university.

Stakeholders at the event had alluded to the growing demand for university education in the state as against the call for other tertiary institutions in the country.

In his submission, Oba Folarin argued that with the large expanse of land available in Epe, the take off site for the university should be situated in Epe division of the state.

The royal father also noted that the proximity of University of Lagos (LASU) to AOCOED would lead to traffic congestion along LASU-Ojo corridor.

“Today, history is being made. I’m speaking on behalf of all royal fathers in Epe division. The proposed university is deepening the third pillar of the THEMES agenda of the State Governor. Education is the best legacy we can bequeath to our children,” he said.

While arguing that NCE certificate was fast going into oblivion, he stated that, “It is right for the university to be sited in MOCPED Epe, It is difficult to have two universities along the same corridor.

“There is sizable expanse of land in Epe. This will provide befitting structures and make people to study under a conducive atmosphere. I urge the government to look at this side,” Oba Ogunsanwo posited.

However, the Oloto of Oto Awori, Oba Olanrewaju cautioned the State Goverment not to dabble into unnecessary controversy, saying the Badagry division had been clamouring for the upgrade of AOCOED for over twenty years.

The royal father who spoke in Yoruba, appealed to the state goverment not to dash the hope of the people in the area, arguing that the take off site of the university should be domiciled in Ijanikin.

According to him, “We have been clamouring for this in the last twenty years.

“You, members of the House of Assembly have been doing what you are elected for, your representation, no doubt is pleasing to us.

“We should be careful, we should not allow conspiracy to destroy this lofty idea. Since the university is located in Ijanikin, it is also in Lagos. We have achieved this kind of feat in the past, this should not be an exemption.”

In his response, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni who spoke on behalf of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said that the House would not dabble into the fray, saying that what it is interested in is to do what will be the interest of the state.

“The House will not join the fray. The arguement is neither here nor there. It is what is in the interest of the state that will be done, we cannot support one community against another,” Obasa noted.

While giving the overview of the Bill, the Leader of the House, Hon Sanai Agunbiade said that there are 53 sections in the proposed law.

According to him, section 44 which is generation of funds addresses the funding of the institution.

It reads, “Local Government in the State shall contribute two percent of their Financial Allocation to tertiary institution in the State such that not less than sixty percent of such money should be given to tertiary Universities owned by the State, for the purpose of educational development (Academic and Physical).

Also, a lecturer in AOCOED, Dr. Stephen Oluwasina said that the decision to turn the school to a university was long overdue.

While saying that the school was the oldest college of education in the country, he advised that a representative of the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) should be in the governing council of the proposed university.

President of the Student Union Government of AOCOED, Comrade Alagbe Sewani said that NCE had lost its value, saying that there is a wide disparity between NCE and Bsc.