Ekiti Assembly renames Ekiti Varsity to Bamidele Olumilua University

Ekiti State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, has renamed the newly approved University of Education, Science and Technology to Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOU) Ikere-Ekiti.

Late Bamidele Olumilua was a former governor of the Old Ondo State (now Ekiti and Ondo States). He passed away on June 4, 2020, at the age of 80 years.

Late Olumilua served as state governor from January 1992 to November 1993 under the platform of the Social Democratic Party, during which another late Governor, Olusegun Agagu was his deputy.

His tenure as Governor was, however, truncated along with others nationwide, when the Sani Abacha-led military administration came into power.

Olumilua, who hailed from Ikere Ekiti.

Meanwhile, the State House of Assembly, at its plenary on Tuesday presided over by Speaker Funminiyi Afuye, unanimously passed the bill into law following a motion moved by Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye ( Ikole constituency II) for renaming the university after the late Governor of old Ondo.

Afuye said the decision of the House was in recognition of the late Olumilua’s immense contributions to the overall growth and development of the state.

“Today, the Ekiti State House of Assembly has passed the bill seeking the renaming of the University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti after our father, late Bamidele Olumilua’s.

“We took the decision to capture his immense contribution to the socio-political and economic life to Ekiti State and the old Ondo State in general.

“He was the first Ekiti man to be elected as governor in the whole of Nigeria. He lived a very exemplary life, he resented cant and humbug.

“He occupied a very high level in the hall of fame in Ekiti that we need to let the generations yet unborn to know that somebody came known as Bamidele Olumilua. He was a man of integrity. So, Baba deserves to be immortalized, that was why we took the decision.”

Newsflash247 had earlier reported that State governor, Kayode Fayemi, on Friday, October 16, had signed the bill to upgrade College of Education Ikere-Ekiti to the University of Education, Science and Technology into law.

The governor signed the bill into law at the EXCO Chambers, Governor’s Office, Ado Ekiti, the state capital to mark his two years in office.

The News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, as saying that the signing of the bill is part of activities marking the second anniversary of the administration.

He said the governor signed the bill into law in Ado-Ekiti, in the presence of the Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, Wife of Governor,  Bisi Fayemi, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Funminiyi Afuye, Deputy Speaker, Hakeem Jamiu, members of the State House of Assembly, members of the executive councils and representatives of Ikere-Ekiti community.

Others present are the Chairman, Governing Council of the College, Chief Afolabi Ojuawo, and the provost, Prof Olufemi Adeoluwa.

According to him, the College of Education Ikere-Ekiti (formerly Ondo State College of Education) was established by an Edict on December 5, 1977.

He explained that the development is in realization of the administration’s commitment to promoting knowledge economy in the state.

He said that Fayemi assured that the state government will continue to demonstrate commitment to the promotion of knowledge in the state.

“The governor commended the Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly for passing the bill which will enhance the fulfilment of his administration’s drive to improve the lives of the people, noting that the stress of passing a bill to law could be tedious and demanding,” he said.

According to the Governor, the bill, which was passed independently by members of the House of Assembly as part of their constitutional responsibilities was done in the best interest of the people of the state.

Fayemi who noted that the three arms of government are designed to complement one another for peace and good governance, promised that his administration will continue to promote harmonious working relationship with the legislators towards maintaining their institutional autonomy.

He said, “Mr speaker has already enumerated several bills that have been passed into law by the State Assembly but the one that assent is being given to today is the one that underscores the importance we attach to knowledge economy.

“I have no doubt that the new legislation I am about to sign will enhance our restoration agenda and make favourable impact in the lives of our people. The three arms of government are to complement one another for good governance, peace and harmony.

“I am glad that our lawmakers are living up to their constitutional responsibilities of legislation, representation, appropriation and oversight functions which they must continue to carry out with the larger interest of the people of Ekiti in mind.”

Earlier, the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Funminiyi Afuye, disclosed that the bill is one of the 32 bills passed by the sixth Assembly and signed into law by the Governor.

The Speaker explained that the passage of the bill is in response to the agitation of the people of Ikere-Ekiti to promote and sustain the legacy of knowledge economy which is one of the cardinal programmes of the Fayemi-led administration.

The provost, Prof Olufemi Adeoluwa, and the Chairman, Governing Council of the College, Chief Afolabi Ojuawo, said the event marked the realization of the expectation of the college.

They expressed readiness of the college to start on fresh note, assuring that both human and infrastructural resources needed for the smooth running of the institution are on ground

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