By Our Correspondent
Parents of students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, in Ogbomosho, Oyo state, on Friday protested against the continued closure of the school, and called on the Oyo State government to take over the university.
A student of the school who witnessed the protest said that the parents got information that there would be a meeting of the school’s management on Friday and decided to use the opportunity to express their disapproval at the myriad of issues troubling the school, which has led to students sitting at home for three months.
The protest took place around 10:00 am, with parents carrying placards bearing different messages and calling on the Abiola Ajimobi-led Oyo State government to take over the school.
“Oyo State take over LAUTECH,” “Pay Oyo State workers with Oyo State money”, “Gbadesin (the vice chancellor, Adeniyi Gbadegesin) don’t sell Oyo State to Osun,” are some of the messages on the placards.
The vice chancellor, Adeniyi Gbadegesin, a Professor, confirmed to www.icirnigeria.org that a protest took place but said he was out of town and was only informed about it.
“I was informed that there was a protest but unfortunately, I am not in Ogbomosho. You know, one has to be there to investigate things to find out what truly happened,” Gbadegesin told our reporter on phone.
LAUTECH, jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states, has been closed down since June 13 following protests by students over the results of Student Union Government Election and also the refusal of the school chapter of the Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU, to submit examinations question papers unless they were paid their outstanding salaries and other allowances.
