‘We’re looking at Jan for takeoff of NOUN Study Centre Ogbomoso, October for commissioning of new police hqtrs’ – Asipa Adekunle
Femi OGUNLANA
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The Asipa of Ogbomosoland, Chief Olusegun Adeyemi Adekunle Esq, OON, KJW, has revealed the possible date for the takeoff of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Study Centre, Ogbomoso, Oyo state. This is as he gave October as the date a new police headquarters in Ogbomoso he personally constructed would be commissioned.
Sir Adekunle made this revelation Wednesday while speaking with ogbomosoinsightonline.com at the palace of the Soun of Ogbomosoland after the conclusion of the security summit held at LAUTECH.
This disclosure is also coming after the visit of a delegation from NOUN which came to inspect the proposed sites being considered as temporary sites for takeoff of the institution in Ogbomoso led by Prof Tessy Agbam, Director of Learner Support Services, who represented the Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Uduma Oji Uduma.
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During the chat, Chief Adekunle who is the chairman of the steering committee working on the take off of the institution, said his committee under the supervision of the Soun of Ogbomosoland Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, has done a lot to secure the approval and take off of NOUN Study Centre in Ogbomoso, while expressing optimism it would take off in January 2027.
“What we have done is to move the needle regarding the establishment of the NOUN Study Centre in Ogbomoso. We recognized that it’s long overdue. While hosting the team from the institution we mentioned to them that there is an urgency to this because after Ibadan, Oyo state for example, Ogbomoso is the second largest city and it is within a driving distance of 30 minutes to Iseyin, 30 minutes to Oyo, 30 minutes to Ejigbo and other key places, and that the population is large, and we know that the flexibility that the Open University and distance learning offers allows so many to acquire actually higher education while still working and running their families and running their lives at the same time.
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“That is why we approached the Open University authorities and they obliged us, and they took a trip to look at the facilities we are presenting for the takeoff. From the exit conversation, they are satisfied, of course, there will always be gaps, but those gaps we shall close. Our original vision is very tall, we hope to make the centre a model for Nigeria so that when it is established it will be technology driven, it will be green, friendly with the environment, to serve a lot of people. We have set a timeline for ourselves; we said that everything being equal we are looking at the possibility of starting in January subject to their approval.”
The retired federal permanent secretary disclosed options of takeoff sites have been shown the team from NOUN informing the final location (or locations) is within their purview to decide. This is as he revealed a working relationship with the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) is being explored, which he said would be mutually beneficial.
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“We have a take-off site, we have options of that, we have shown them two to three options, large enough to accommodate thousands of students, and we have prospects of collaborating with LAUTECH and the engagement can be mutual, mutually beneficial.”
Adekunle, a nephew of late Nigeria’s Civil War hero, Brigadier Benjamin Adekunle, noted the institution when it finally takes off would boost the economy of Ogbomosoland.
“The university will offer opportunities for jobs, down the value chain when the institution eventually starts. When students come for contacts, they will eat, they will use public transports, rent houses; it will boost the economy of Ogbomoso, the value chain will be enhanced.”
Elsewhere, it was stated the permanent site would be ready in two years.
He was subsequently asked about the police headquarters he is building at the Ogbomoso GRA, Yanyan Market, along new Ogbomoso – Ilorin expressway, disclosing the station is ready and is billed for commissioning this month or early November.
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“The place is ready. When a place like that is built it fits into the infrastructure being used already by such estates. That is being worked out, the remaining technical details are being worked out. By the end of October or early November, it will be commissioned. But it is ready, it is ready for commissioning and it will boost security infrastructure in Ogbomosoland.”
“We have seen a lot of your contributions to Ogbomoso, should the people expect more from you?” He was further asked.
He assured he and his colleagues are poised to do more, submitting they had benefitted a lot from Ogbomoso as well.
Ogbomoso Insight recalls he is building the Police headquarters as a requirement to being conferred the title of Asipa by the Soun Oba Ghandi. Others who were installed last December were also saddled with such obligation. According to the Soun, “For anyone to earn the chieftaincy title bearing Ogbomosoland, such a person must be ready to undertake a physical developmental project for the community. That replaces the tradition of giving gratification to the Soun.”
In line with the new model, Adekunle is given the police headquarters to build; Rear Admiral Jacob Ajani (rtd) who was installed Aare Mayegun of Ogbomosoland is building a modern shopping complex at a section of Araada Market; Professor Adeshola Adepoju, conferred with the title of Asiwaju of Ogbomosoland, constructed a recreation/relaxation centre at Isale-General (already commissioned); while Dr. Saka Balogun, conferred with the traditional title of Balogun of Ogbomosoland, built the remodeled Forest Market (Oja’gbo), also commissioned.
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Responding, Adekunle declared, “Of course, we have benefited a lot from Ogbomoso, and nothing is too much to do for humanity, nothing is too much to thank God for. Nothing is too much to do for Ogbomosoland. Ogbomoso is a great land, its people are wonderful, very hardworking, very warm, all we can do is to use the opportunities God has given us to help millions of Ogbomoso indigenes. We should serve, so, Ogbomoso should expect more, more so, we are chiefs, that is service, whenever I woke up to do anything, before you even wake me up, I will offer.”
