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Ladoja supports #FundLAUTECH initiative with over N5m.
FORMER governor of Oyo state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja on Wednesday donated a sum of N5, 840, 000 to #FundLAUTECH, an initiative set up by the Alumni.
The initiative, which was conceived and conceptualized by Alumni of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso is aimed at rescuing the institution from imminent collapse through soliciting for fund.
The Accord Party (AP) leader donated N2, 000, 000 and his next 6 months pension salaries to the cause. Sources who spoke to Mega Icon Magazine disclosed that his pension, is N644, 589.15 per month.
Ladoja, who is the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, made the donation while receiving the team in his Bodija home in Ibadan.
In a related development, the 8 Accord lawmakers in the Oyo State House of Assembly also pledged a donation of N1, 000, 000.
Speaking at the reception, Ladoja, who said he did not have the privilege of going to LAUTECH, but studied in Belgium, noted: “I know the value of education. If you educate your child, you are ensuring a good future for yourself.
“It is not only that you are serving LAUTECH, you are serving humanity. What is going to be the fate of those students who have been in the same class for close to three years. Whatever happens to LAUTECH happens to all of us. My records are there in LAUTECH, as governor. I wanted to make the school number one but we made 5th position.
“That is commendable. Why thinking of the immediate, we must plan for the future. Is it safe to give it to government? Is it safe to trust government with LAUTECH. It is not good for us to think of ways of making it a private university with affordable fees. What is wrong in having a joint ownership?”, he questioned.
Earlier in his address, the leader of delegation of the University’s Alumni Association, Mr. Bayo Adeyinka narrated how many current and former students of the institution lost foreign admissions because they were unable to process their transcripts, adding that “about 37 consultants have left the university.”
He added that “Ogbomoso is now a ghost town because the economy of the state is attached to the university. If any of the students who have been at home for 3 years take to arms, who are we going to blame? Anybody can be the victim.
“We are not saying the state should not audit the institution, let the school be opened. You cannot even audit when they are not in school.
“What we are doing is like a palliative. We are working with ASUU. When we finish raising the fund, we will give the staffs and they will resume while the government continues auditing, within 3 weeks.
He continued, ” our long term objective is that by the time this is resolved, we want to use the fund to open an ICT hub so that everybody can develop technological thing in LAUTECH. Our short term is on what we can do to resolve this issue. Things have become worse that when they resume, some courses will have to be reaccredited.
It would be recalled that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who promised to chair the initiative’s Board of Trustees, donated N500, 000 to the cause last week.
US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry.
“The company has incurred significant losses in recent years,” Ford said in a statement, blaming “the industry shift to electrified vehicles and new competition”.
The move will affect 2,900 jobs in Germany, 800 in the UK and 300 in western Europe by the end of 2027, a Ford spokesman told AFP.
“It is critical to take difficult but decisive action to ensure Ford’s future competitiveness in Europe,” said Dave Johnston, Ford’s European vice-president in the statement.
The company also said it was adjusting the production of its Explorer and Capri models, resulting in reduced hours at its Cologne plant in the first quarter of 2025.
Europe’s car industry has been plunged into crisis by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering switch to electric vehicles and increased competition in key market China.
Germany’s Volkswagen has been among those hardest hit, announcing in September that it was considering the unprecedented move of closing some factories in Germany.
“The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said at the time.
Ford had already announced in February 2023 that it was planning to cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, including 2,300 in Germany and 1,300 in Britain.
The company said then it was planning to reduce the number of models developed for Europe, concentrate on the profitable van segment and speed up the transition to electric vehicles.
Ford currently has around 28,000 employees in Europe with 15,000 in Germany, according to the company’s works council.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, and Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike.
The council, chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, comprised five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
A statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the council was dissolved following reports of procedural violations in appointing the vice-chancellor.
According to the statement, the council had allegedly appointed an unqualified candidate, disregarding due process, which triggered tensions between the university’s Senate and the council.
The Federal Government expressed dismay over the council’s actions, emphasizing the need for adherence to the university’s governing laws in decision-making.
“The council’s disregard for established rules necessitated the government’s intervention to restore order to the 33-year-old institution,” the statement noted.
In a related development, President Tinubu also approved the dismissal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Salami was accused of suspending the university’s Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures, a move the Federal Ministry of Education had previously directed him to reverse.
Despite the Ministry’s directives, Salami reportedly refused to comply and resorted to issuing threats and abusive remarks towards the Ministry’s officials, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary role of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of academic activities, strictly adhering to the laws establishing each institution.
Tinubu warned university councils against engaging in actions that could destabilize their institutions, as his administration remains committed to enhancing the nation’s education system.
The Ekiti State Government has reached an agreement with labour leaders in the state, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Addressing journalists at a brief ceremony in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, announced that the payment would commence immediately.
She lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the welfare of workers despite the state’s limited resources.
“This development demonstrates the governor’s commitment to improving the livelihood of our workers,” Dr. Olomojobi stated, highlighting the proactive measures taken by the administration to ensure prompt implementation.
In their remarks, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Comrade Sola Adigun, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Comrade Olatunde Kolapo, expressed their appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for fulfilling his promises to workers.
They confirmed that the new minimum wage would apply to all cadres, including employees in ministries, parastatals, agencies, and pensioners.
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Comrade Femi Ajoloko, described the implementation as a fair and commendable adjustment.
“This decision reflects the governor’s magnanimity and his dedication to fostering a productive workforce in Ekiti State,” he said.
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