UNILESA to tackle open grazing with NSCDC agro ranger officials, says VC

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilesa, Osun State, Prof Olufemi Asaolu, has said the management planned to hire operatives of the Agro Ranger Unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to tackle the menace of herders engaging in open grazing on the campus of the institution.

Asaolu, who spoke on the university campus in Ilesa on Wednesday at the media parley organised to mark the third anniversary of his appointment as the Vice Chancellor, said herders rearing cattle often stray into the campus, describing the situation as ‘uncalled for.’

Asaolu, who also decried the activities of the perpetrators of illegal mining activities, further said, “Just as we have herders as one of our national problems, they are still there near us here. What we have done to address that challenge is to engage agro rangers, who visit us regularly to assess the situation.

“We are in the process of establishing a collaboration with the agro rangers group, which will enable their operatives to be resident on the campus. Those who will be hired must be able to speak the language the herders understand. With that the menace will be reduced to a tolerable extent.”

Regarding illegal mining, Asaolu recalled that a couple of the perpetrators were arrested by the university in the past.

He added, “The issue of illegal miners is also confronting us. It is easy to accost herders who usually bring their cattle during the day. But the illegal miners, they operate in the dead of the night with arms.

“They will dig trenches so much that it is not safe; one can easily fall into the excavated sites. It is that bad. If you go through the Osu/Ibadan road, you will see them with big excavators working unchallenged. We arrested a couple of them in the past, and we shall keep arresting them.”

Highlighting achievements of his administration over the past three years, the VC said the university currently runs about 97 courses, all approved by the National Universities Commission.

“These include – Law, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy, Optometry, Chinese Studies, and Special Education, among others. We have also received NUC approval to commence the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme. We are now awaiting the concurrent approval of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to commence the programme.

“NUC Accreditation status of our programmes is quite encouraging. For a University that is just 3 years old, 40 of our academic programmes currently enjoy full accreditation status from the NUC. Additional programmes would be presented for the forthcoming accreditation exercise and for professional accreditation by relevant regulatory bodies.

“Let me also inform you that our academic offerings have been further expanded with the establishment of a Faculty of Technology, commencing with Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechatronics Engineering, he said.

The VC further said, “Our student population has grown to over 15,000 across our Bachelor’s Degree, JUPEB, Pre-Degree, and other academic programmes. This remarkable growth within three years of take-off reflects public confidence in the quality and relevance of UNILESA’s academic offerings.”

In the field of sport, he said the university’s unique 18-hole Golf Course remains a notable milestone, noting that the facility has projected the institution’s image nationally and has hosted numerous tournaments and events, igniting passion for golf among staff and students.

He commended Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, for supporting the university’s growth with funds, saying the institution has also benefited from Federal Government TETfund and NELFUND interventions, which have enabled it to address accommodation challenges facing students, among others.

Online reports that in April 2023, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, approved the appointment of principal officers at the University of Ilesa.

A statement by the spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, said Prof. Taiwo Asaolu from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, was appointed the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the university, while Mr Funso Ojo was named the Registrar of the institution.

Dr Mukaila Oyekanmi was named the Bursar, while Mr Adewale Ogunsipe was appointed the Librarian.