Some of the projects visited at the Campus, include four gigantic newly built hostels for medical students, Biochemistry lecture hall, a completed lecture theatre for faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, the ongoing 800 seater lecture theatre for faculty of Arts and Sciences donated by an alumnus of the Institution, Dr Tayo Adiatu, and another 150 seater full multi media lecture theatre donated by Jolade Foundation, Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases where the University deals with outbreak of Infectious diseases among others.
The Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases according to Prof. Olusola Ojurongbe, a Professor of Parasitology, who is the head of the team at the hub said the center has three segments comprises the Viral section, Bacteria Section, and Parasitic section.
In his explanation, Professor Ojurongbe further said that “The hub came into existence in 2021 following the COVID -19 pandemic, so the idea here is to have a well equipped genomics center to be able to respond rapidly to new emerging threats in terms of pathogens. The hub is being funded by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany and the fund is provided by Bayer foundation also in Germany, these two partners provided what we have here and the University management has been very good in managing the funds for the past two and half years and that’s why you can see what we have here, the idea is that we should be able to quickly identify new pathogens, when they’re coming, maybe imported into the country or maybe even circulating within the country.”
While briefing journalists during a press conference held at the University’s Council Chamber A.M. Salau Senate Building ahead of the 16th Convocation Ceremonies of the institution, Prof Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu stressed that the expansion of the LAUTECH’s academic vista and the rapid growth of the University have imposed the need for infrastructural upgrade and expansion.
“Four of our large lecture theatres were renovated to make the learning environment more conducive. A TETFund sponsored faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences building complex that was started in 2015 and left uncompleted since 2019 has been completed to complement the ones currently in use. Similarly two high impact students hostels started in 2019 were completed and will soon be released for use to make learning and campus life easier for our students.”
“There are also ongoing construction of three large capacity multi-media lecture theatres and ICT facilities at Ogbomoso and Iseyin Campuses, they were donated to University by five stakeholders. It is noteworthy that the Oyo state government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde has continued it’s massive infrastructural development of Iseyin campus, our Central Research laboratory has been galvanized na the ICT facilities have been expanded. The library subscriptions and physical books collection have been enhanced with over twenty million naira. The needs keep expanding, I therefore invite different stakeholders and friends of the University to join hands with government to further develop the University.”
While speaking on the forthcoming 16th convocation ceremonies of the University, the acting Vice Chancellor said, “a total number of 4,749 first class degrees will be awarded to graduating students on Monday 21st April, 99 out of the total number are graduating in the first class category, while 1,363 of them will be graduating with second class upper category, 2,580 students in the second class lower category and 597 students in the third class category.”
“It’s known fact that our University now has a campus in Iseyin, the campus houses the college of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources. This is in line with the vision of the Visitor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to the University, the campus began operation on 23 October, 2023 and has remained a centre of academic activities since then. Last session, the students at the campus were 1,360. The students population in that campus in the current session has grown to 2,704.”
Speaking on the establishment of new departments and academic programmes that was recently accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Acting Vice Chancellor said “it’s imperative to say that the academic outlook of this University is rapidly changing, a year ago, the University established the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences with four academic programmes, this year we’ve introduced six additional new degrees programmes I to that faculty namely, psychology, Mass Communication, Linguistics, Yoruba Theatre Arts, and Political Science. Faculty of Law has also been established to run a degree programme in law.”
