Oyo Approves ₦650m for LAUTECH Research Farm Launch

News in brief:

-Oyo Government approves ₦650m take-off grant for LAUTECH research farm at Iseyin campus.

-The investment targets agriculture, infrastructure, innovation and institutional growth.

The Oyo State Government has approved a ₦650 million take-off grant for the Teaching and Research Farm at the Iseyin Campus of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).

Governor Seyi Makinde, represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal, disclosed this during the institution’s 18th convocation ceremony held at its main campus in Ogbomoso.

Investment Targets Agriculture and Innovation

Makinde said the approval forms part of broader efforts to sustain strategic reforms and position the university as a globally competitive centre for innovation, research and development.

He noted that the development aligns with the state’s economic agenda on agriculture, food security, youth employment and agribusiness expansion.

According to him, the government is strengthening the institution through sustained funding, deliberate policies and targeted infrastructure development.

Beyond the research farm, the state government also approved investments in infrastructure, ICT, healthcare, housing and mobility support for the Iseyin campus.

Makinde said these interventions are aimed at consolidating long-term academic excellence and enhancing institutional growth.

He added that since the resolution of the ownership dispute between Oyo and Osun states, the university has experienced improved stability, uninterrupted academic activities and renewed investor confidence.

NUC Recalls Ownership Dispute Resolution

Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission, Prof Olu Aina, recounted the diplomatic process that resolved the prolonged ownership dispute over the institution.

He said the decision to cede full ownership to Oyo State was guided by fairness and long-term institutional sustainability.

Aina emphasised that the focus should have been on staff welfare and students' future rather than on prolonged contention.

Addressing the graduating students, Aina urged them to prioritise character alongside academic competence, noting that integrity remains critical to long-term success.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Razaq Kalilu also charged postgraduate students to continue pursuing knowledge, adapt to evolving realities and maintain a commitment to excellence.

University Sustains Growth Despite Challenges

Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof Ayodeji Omole, said the university has maintained its position as a leading state institution in Nigeria despite operational pressures.

He, however, noted that continued growth would require sustained investment in infrastructure and resources to meet rising demand.

The latest funding is expected to strengthen LAUTECH’s role in agricultural research and support the state’s broader push for food security and economic development.