Fayemi's Merger Of Three Universities Was Disservice To Ekiti People—Fayose

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has reiterated his commitment to the return of the scrapped University of Science and Technology, Ifaki-Ekiti (USTI) and The University of Education Ikere-Ekiti (TUNEDIK), saying; scrapping of the two universities was a disservice to Ekiti people.

Speaking through the Director General of Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation (AFCO), Chief Dipo Anisulowo, the governorship candidate said; "Governor Kayode Fayemi denied thousands of Ekiti youths the opportunity of gaining admission into the university by merging the three universities that he met in the State into one."

He said; "For instance, if the National University Commission (NUC) quota for Ekiti indigenes was 40 per cent in each of the three universities and each of the universities is to admit 2,000 students, the population of Ekiti indigenes that will be admitted into the universities will be 2,400 out of 6,000 to be admitted. But with the merger, only 800 will get admission into Ekiti State University (EKSU) because NUC will not increase the quota because three universities were merged into one.

"Also, by the merger, Ekiti State is being shortchanged in terms of access to funds from Federal Government Education intervention agency like Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

"Between 2010 and 2014, University of Nigeria, Nsukka alone was able to access N4.3bn from TETFund, and as at the time USTI was scrapped, the university had attracted over N1bn intervention fund from TETFund.

'Also, as at the time USTI was scrapped, the university already had an arrangement with Semyung University, Jecheon City, Chungbuk,

South Korean to run an exchange programme that will enable the

students the opportunity of earning dual certificates. 36 students of USTI were already billed to travel to South Korea for the programme before the university was scrapped.

"All the opportunities listed above were lost just because Fayemi, out of malice and political vendetta against Ifaki-Ekiti people, closed down USTI after a Education Summit that was programmed to work towards a pre-determined answer.

"Ridiculously, the same Fayemi who claimed Ekiti State could not fund more than one university is wasting billions of naira on irrelevant projects like State Pavilion, new Government House, Civic Centre and flower planting?

"Funny enough, Fayemi is now talking about replacing USTI with a Medical Technology Institute and we wonder how sensible is it for a university to be replaced with an institute.

'Therefore, like we have said before, what Ifaki people deserve is a return of USTI and that is exactly what they will get the moment PDP takes over power on October 16, 2014.'

Lere Olayinka
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