Oyo State Advances LAUTECH Ownership Transition with ₦5 Billion Payment to Osun

The Oyo State Government has disbursed ₦5 billion to the Osun State Government as part of the agreed ₦8 billion settlement for the sole ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso. This payment aligns with the asset-sharing agreement formalized in November 2020, which transferred full ownership of LAUTECH to Oyo State and the College of Health Sciences in Osogbo to Osun State.

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, confirmed that the payments are being made in installments, with the full amount expected to be settled before the end of Governor Seyi Makinde's administration in 2027. The initial agreement stipulated payments of ₦1 billion in January and December 2021, followed by ₦3 billion in both 2022 and 2023. However, reports indicate that as of November 2022, Oyo State had paid a total of ₦3.5 billion, with no further payments recorded in 2023.

The dissolution of joint ownership was facilitated by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to resolve longstanding governance and funding challenges that plagued the institution. The main campus in Ogbomoso now falls under Oyo State's jurisdiction, while Osun State oversees the College of Health Sciences in Osogbo.

This transition marks a significant step in enhancing the administrative efficiency and academic excellence of LAUTECH, reflecting Oyo State's commitment to advancing higher education within the region.