17th February, 2012
A member of the House of Representatives, Lanre Odubote, has added his voice to the growing opposition to the decision of Ogun State Government to change Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun to Tai Solarin College of Education.
Odubote, who represents Epe Federal Constituency and who is an alumnus of the institution, said the upgrading of the school by the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel from college of education to a university was geared towards advancing the teaching of higher education courses in the state.
According to him, the reversal of the 2005 decision by current administration might destroy the dream of the forefathers of the state.
He further explained that many alumni of the institution are not happy about the development, which he described as ugly, stating that apart from the fact that the institution provides teaching at academic level; it also provides meteorological services to the society.
He said there are a lot of misinformation concerning the institution, noting that “aspirations of many prospective students striving to study teaching at higher level might be killed if the decision of the state government is allowed to subsist.
“We must strive to increase the number of universities teaching higher education rather than reducing them in the state,” he said.
Continuing, the legislator said: “I believe the majority of people are against the government’s decision.
“So the government should rescind the decision in order to restore people’s confidence in government activities. This is education, not politics.
“Many of us, alumni, are not happy about this ugly development. We are opposed to it and we will continue to agitate until the wish of the people is respected.”
By Eromosele Ebhomele