ONI TASKS EKITI SCIENCE VARSITY GOVERNING COUNCIL ON PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

Ekiti State Governor, Engr Segun Oni has charged the Governing Council
of the University of Science and Technology, Ifaki (USTI) to develop
the university very rapidly into a world class institution through the
concept of Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Governor Oni, who gave the advise while playing host to the
Pro-Chancellor and members of the Governing Council of the
University in Ado-Ekiti said the PPP concept would guarantee access
to funds, expertise and open the window of opportunities required to
make the new University a centre of excellence .

While stressing that with the calibre of outstanding men and women on
the University's Governing Council and the commitment of his
administration to the provision of the wherewithal to succeed, the
governor said the task of developing the institution into a world
class institution was quite achievable.

Oni, who charged the University Council to lay emphasis on
Information Technology and introduce unique and specialist science
courses that are in tandem with demands of modern day Nigeria and the
world advised the council to attract scholars from around the globe to
come and teach in the institution.

He disclosed that the state Government had released the first tranche
of the institution's capital vote to enable it commence the
development of its permanent site.

Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the University's Governing
Council, Prof. Peter Okebukola, stressed the commitment of the Council
to fulfil the vision of the state government of developing USTI into a
world class university, where good quality students are trained by
good quality lecturers in a world class environment.

He disclosed that the university council had approved the construction
of a minerals testing centre in conjunction with a Korea conglomerate,
adding that the council had also granted approval for the introduction
of degree course in forensic sciences in the institution.

Okebukola, who is the immediate past Executive Secretary of the
National Universities Commission (NUC) disclosed that the university
council also approved the introduction of a Special Pre-Degree course
in science for non-science students in the institution.

The Pro-Chancellor said that his administration had approved the
construction of the first set of buildings in the University's
permanent site, adding that the buildings would be ready for
commissioning in the next nine months