The Ogbomoso University: Day of decision tomorrow, Saturday – How you can be a co-owner, account to pay into …

The Ogbomoso University: Day of decision tomorrow, Saturday – How you can be a co-owner, account to pay into …

Khalid ABRAHAM

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The fund-raising programme for the proposed The Ogbomoso University (TOU) is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, October 24. It will come up at The Royal Crown Hotel, Old Ilorin Road, Ogbomoso.

The decisive event is put together by the promoter of the private university, Ogbomoso Academics, as the project enters a crucial stage. A sum of N1.5 billion is urgently needed to host the National Universities Commission (NUC) for its second mandatory verification exercise.

It is in order to beat the NUC deadline that the town hall/fund raising meeting with stakeholders is coming up tomorrow.

According to a statement by Prof Misbaudeen Abdul-Hammed, a spokesman for the group, the way forward to the progress/final success of The Ogbomoso University Project is raising the required fund urgently. “Hence, there is need for members of the community to come in, as we are to communicate the NUC whether we are ready for the second visit or not.”

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He disclosed that in the event the deadline was not met, a delay of about six years would be the consequence because of the embargo on establishment of private universities in the country. That was a hurdle earlier crossed.

“If we are not ready, the project may have to wait till the next 6 years, due to the moratorium/ban on the establishment of new private universities in Nigeria, the hurdle we have overcome earlier,” Abdul-Hammed said.

The university don therefore called on “representatives of sociocultural groups, churches, mosques/ Islamic organizations, Isese groups, cooperative unions, trade organizations, philanthropists, politicians, individuals, people in the diaspora, those who have donated/contributed to the TOU project so far and those who wish to be partakers.”

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He hammered, “We cannot fail at this point, we are hereby inviting everyone to a town hall/fund raising meeting of The Ogbomoso University this Saturday.”

ogbomosoinsightonline.com reports that the university is envisioned to be owned by the people of the city. In this wise, two categories of contributors are envisaged – financial contributors, those ho will put in N1, 000, N2, 000, N50, 000, N100, 000, N1m etc, and be able to tell their descendants they made financial contributions to the legacy project, that they are co-owners; and then, the investors, those who would have financial stakes, shareholders, and have the chance to be in the BOTs (depending on their level of investments).

“Whatever level of intervention individuals or groups commit will help to drive us towards the actualization of our dreams. Ajose gbogbo Omo Ogbomoso (Home and Abroad) ni ooo, Ogbomoso ko nii baje,” Prof Abdul-Hameed said.

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