•Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State
The management of University of Ilesa has confirmed the receipt of N3 billion from Governor Ademola Adeleke to clear outstanding salary arrears and facilitate the permanent employment of about 300 casual workers.
Vice Chancellor Taiwo Asaolu disclosed this while addressing journalists yesterday as part of activities marking the institution’s third anniversary, themed “Three Years of Purposeful Leadership, Growth and Institutional Transformation.”
He commended the governor for sustained interventions since the university’s establishment, reports The Nation.
Asaolu also revealed that no fewer than 3,661 students of the institution benefited from the Nigeria Education Loan Fund in 2026. He noted that the university currently has a student population of about 15,000, with beneficiaries drawn from the federal government’s student loan initiative, alongside a tuition-free policy approved by the state government for students in the Faculties of Education and Agriculture.
The Vice Chancellor recalled that the institution inherited deteriorating infrastructure, low staff morale, a student population of fewer than 1,000, and poor environmental conditions.
He, however, stated that the university now runs 97 academic programmes, all accredited by the National Universities Commission.
According to him, over 300 staff on temporary appointments were absorbed from the defunct Osun State College of Education, many of whom earned less than N25,000 monthly and were owed allowances. He said the situation initially disrupted the smooth take-off of the university.
He added that the state government addressed the challenge by granting permanent appointments to all affected staff and settling outstanding allowances owed to permanent employees, amounting to over N3 billion. Retired staff and next-of-kin of deceased workers also benefited from the payments.
Asaolu further disclosed that the institution has received significant support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, and the Ijesa community, among others, with multiple infrastructure projects funded or donated.
On student accommodation, he said the TETFund released over N750 million, while about N2 billion has been committed to hostel construction.
He also confirmed that the university successfully recovered 15 acres of land and 24 housing units previously developed on its property by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, following a resolution with the federal government.
