… Urges Aiyedatiwa to fast-track executive bill and others for a swift takeoff.

The approval for the conversion of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), into the University of Agricultural Science and Technology by the Ondo State Executive Council has been described as monumental in the educational and socio-economic evolution of Owo kingdom and the state at large.

According to the Owo Youth General Assembly (OYGA), the development will in no small measure redefine the state’s educational landscape.

The youth body, in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, emphasized that the decision will position Owo as a center of excellence in agricultural research, scientific innovation, and technological advancement.

While describing the development as a crucial educational policy decision in recent years, the group commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa over what it described as his statesmanship and commitment to the advancement of higher education.

The statement, signed by the president of the assembly, Comrade Temidayo Obadaye, noted that the governor’s action had not only fulfilled a long-standing aspiration of the people of the Owo Kingdom but had also demonstrated a deliberate commitment to institutional development, human capital enhancement, and sustainable economic transformation.

“The approval granted by the State Executive Council represents far more than an administrative decision. It is a historic intervention that will undoubtedly expand educational opportunities, stimulate research and innovation, attract investments, and accelerate socio-economic development within and beyond Ondo State,” the statement read.

While lauding Aiyedatiwa for the landmark achievement, the Assembly urged him to immediately commence the next phase of the conversion process by transmitting the necessary executive bill to the Ondo State House of Assembly for expeditious legislative consideration and passage.

The youth body maintained that prompt legislative action would provide the statutory and legal framework required for the formal establishment and operation of the institution as a university.

The Assembly further appealed to the governor to facilitate immediate engagement with the National Universities Commission (NUC) with a view to securing all requisite approvals, accreditations, and certifications necessary for the institution’s operational take-off.

“It is our considered view that all administrative, regulatory, and statutory processes should be pursued with utmost urgency to ensure that this noble vision does not suffer avoidable delays occasioned by bureaucratic bottlenecks,” the statement added.

The OYGA also advocated the immediate appointment of principal officers for the proposed university, including the vice-chancellor, registrar, bursar, and university librarian, noting that early constitution of the institution’s administrative machinery would enhance planning, coordination, and seamless commencement of academic activities.

The Assembly also congratulated the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, for what it described as his advocacy and commitment to the growth and development of the Owo kingdom.