By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

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The Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu-Alagbado, has stressed the need for government at all levels to focus more attention on the development of Nigeria tertiary education in terms of funding, research and innovation.

Lamenting the ongoing strike action embarked upon by members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Ekiti monarch also called on the people of the country, especially the political class to channel billions of money being expended on procurement of nomination forms to seek positions to fund university education.

The monarch spoke at the weekend, while presenting a N16 million worth ambulance donated by his community to Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti (BOUESTl).

Addressing the university’s top brass during the handing over ceremony, held at his palace, the traditional ruler upbraided Nigerian leaders for allowing the university education to decay through unwarranted underfunding.

Adu-Alagbado hinted that the ambulance was not just donated by Ikere elite, saying “market men and women, chiefs , technicians and  babalawos all sacrificed to purchase the vehicle. I commend my subjects for their unity of purpose.

“This ambulance will be useful now that the population of students and staff are increasing. This gesture will also help in telling us that we should  patronise made in Nigeria goods. We bought it from Innoson Motors.

“We didn’t want to buy Tokunbo ambulance, only way we can create jobs for our youth. If we continue to buy made in Nigeria products, to all of us here, if we want to buy anything, buy made in Ekiti products, including farm products like pepper, tomato and all that.”

Describing the gift as stunning and rewarding, Governor Kayode Fayemi, represented by the Education Commissioner, Dr. Bimpe Aderiye, appreciated the community for taking the step to help the university.

Fayemi said: “Last year, the community donated a sum of N60m to the university as take off grant out of N500m they promised to give to the institution.

“This is a communal love that our forefathers had for education. Kabiyesi, this university will run like no one has ever ran before. The government and individuals will rise to help the university. We will get results sooner than we ever expected”.

In his response, BOUESTI Vice Chancellor , Prof. Victor Adeoluwa, appreciated Oba Adu-Alagbado and Ikere community for seeing the university as their “baby”.

“To let you know that we are striving towards excellence, BOUESTI now has an ICT worth N118 million through donations from some bodies. We have introduced new and novel courses like degrees in Clothing and Textile and Fashion Designing Studies to make us unique.”