A non-governmental organisation in Ogun State, the Egba Economic Summit, has described the approval of the University of Medicine in Abeokuta as a fulfilment of 70 years’ desire after missing the opportunity to host the first university in sub-Saharan Africa.
The group, in a statement by its president, Chief Shina Luwoye, commended the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for approving the siting of the university in Abeokuta.
Luwoye noted that the university was one of the cardinal objectives of the Egba agenda that the summit has been working on.
He also commended the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, for his doggedness in achieving the feat.
The statement read in part, “Once again, the sun has shone upon Egbaland; 70 years after we missed the golden opportunity to host the first university in sub-Saharan Africa, that is the University of Ibadan
“To the glory of God and in recognition of the leadership and astuteness of our Kabiyesi, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Okukenu IV, we want to thank President Mohammadu Buhari for graciously approving the siting of the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences in the heart of Egbaland for the people of Ogun state and western Nigeria.
“This feat could not have been possible without the efforts of our visionary and astute politicians that have represented us well at the National Assembly.
“Though the bill was first introduced to the National Assembly by Sen. Lanre Tejuosho however, in the spirit of cooperation that has always existed among Egba people; it is not found anywhere in Nigeria where one senator will hand over and another one will continue from where he stopped.
“But not only did Sen. Ibikunle Amosun continue this, he financed it personally and to the glory of God before he completed his current tenure at the senate, the president assented to the bill and the university now births in Egbaland.
“I must also mention that Sen. Amosun provided 350 hectares of land; a permanent site for the university. For the first time in Ogun state, a tertiary institution will be taking off on its permanent site.”
Luwoye appreciated the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Prof. Adewale Musa-Olomu for his immense contributions towards the achievement.
The bill for the establishment of the university was introduced to the Senate in 2018 by Senator Lanre Tejuoso, who represented Ogun Central between 2015 and 2019.
The bill, which passed the first and second reading at the Senate, was then adopted by Senator lbikunle Amosun, who took over from Tejuoso.
