I write to request for a space in your widely-read newspaper to commend the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on his resilience and determination to make education affordable to the masses. It is only the enemy of the state that will not appreciate the courage of the governor, who recently slashed the tuition fees of Osun State University from N190,000 to N100,000 and N155,000 to N75,000 at 40 per cent and 52 per cent difference respectively.
When Oyinlola announced the establishment of the university, the people of the state were so happy, not knowing that the establishment of the university was not even meant for the people of the state. As a new university then, more than 50,000 applicants sat for the Post-UME of the university, but when the Okuku-born retired Army General, made public the exorbitant, irrational and exploitative tuition fees payable in the university, 95 per cent of the applicants quickly abandoned the admission as a result of their inability to pay the fees.
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Those who could even afford paying the fees decided to go to some of the private universities, who have better facilities and more conducive accommodation at cheaper rates, instead of spending such huge amount on a government-owned university, with little or no infrastructure. It is on record that as at that time, no government university; State or Federal in Nigeria had ever charged such an exorbitant tuition fees and despite the public outcry, Oyinlola stood his ground.
The Aregbesola gesture has really justified the mandate people freely gave to him on April 14, 2007 and with this human face policies, most especially on education, truly Aregbesola is a core Awoist, who really understands the value of education to the survival of the society. With this gesture, I am of the view that the governor needs to urgently draft a proposed bill to the State House of Assembly that will redefine the establishment, funding and the management of the university, to meet with current global realities.
As a government-owned university, the current law, which established the university forbids staff and students' unionism, this is retrogressive and against the autonomy of a university. The implication is that when students are not allowed to associate freely, they may be lured into secret societies in channeling their grievances.
•Quadri Adeniyi, Osogbo, Osun State.
Osun Defender