Introduction: "Every great moment of social change was once a confirmed impossibility. People's determination in the face of overwhelming odds has, time and again, triumphed over what seems impossible. This is what you tell yourself.” -Tim Winton

Osun state governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola has in principle approved the conversion of the state college of education, Ilesa to a full fledge university saying he  will set up a committee to look into the proposal submitted by  the ijesa leaders for upgrade of the 43 years old college of education.

Mr Oyetola stated this when the Asiwaju of Ijesaland, Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi led ijesa leaders to submit the proposal at the governor's office.

The entire Ijesaland with all the illustrious sons and daughters both at home and in diaspora are overwhelmingly grateful to The Executive Governor of Osun State; His Excellency, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for giving a promising hope for the realization of the generational longing of all Ijesas in having a university in Ilesa on this day Friday, 6th August 2021. In due course, we are so persuaded that the historical upgrade of the College of Education to a University would be speedily facilitated in order to transit this noble task from a dream to a reality that generations yet unborn would graciously celebrate.

Ijesaland has produced many great men from time immemorial; ancient militaristic, agriculturalists, erudite scholars and educationalists, legal luminaries of global repute, distinctive administrators among others across the world with great exploits across the world. It is however, unbelievable that such a prominent ancient city with undeniable generational landmarks is still the only city with ‘No University’ in spite of the fact that it has the first local government areas in Yorubaland. 

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PHOTOS: The Infrastructures of Osun State College of Education Qualified her to Assume the Status of a University

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The presence of a University in the society has been with major advantages which include: being a catalyst for economic transformation in the society as the multiplier effects of the tremendous demands for goods and services across spectrum of human needs (agricultural, real estate, transportation, artisan etc) would cause a favourable revenue shift in the community and precipitate an increase in the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the state at large.  

These unquantifiable benefits that would have led to greater impacts and attraction of more transformational minds to Ijesaland have never been unlocked due to the lack of a university in Ijesaland.Three conspicuous cream-of-the-crop in Ijesaland namely, Asiwaju of Ijesaland, Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi; Sawe of Ilesa, High Chief Akin Akinola; and the former Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole have magnificently risen with steel-strong persuasion and led the Presidents of all Pan-Ijesa Societies, namely, 

Ijesa Elders Forum; The Ijesa Society; the Roots Club of Ijesaland; Egbe Atunluse ti Ile-Ijesa; Ijesa Felates Club; Ijesa Progressive Circle; Ijesa Patriotic Klub; Ijesa Sports Club; Ijesa Development Assembly; Ijesa Pioneers Club; amongst other prominent Societies, Daughters & Sons in Ijesaland to the Executive Governor of Osun State, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola with just one goal, one mission and one objective. The one goal, one mission and one objective is to seek for the upgrade of the oldest state College of Education in Nigeria; the 43 years old Osun State College of Education, Ilesa to Osun State University of Education, Science and Technology, Ilesa. 

Ten compact and unarguable reasons were coherently organized by the squad of Leaders in Ijesaland as to why the Executive Governor of Osun State should heed the passionate plea of the Ijesas. These reasons are:

Ilesa is reputed to be the seat of the first Local Government in Nigeria comprising the old Ekiti and Ondo provinces but has no university whereas others in Ekiti and Ondo already have.Ilesa is the only major Yoruba city available today in Nigeria without a University.Ilesa is the only city having the oldest state College of Education in Nigeria established 43 years ago yet to be upgraded to a University.Ilesa is the only ancient city with significant traditional history in Osun state without a University.

Ilesa is the only city in Nigeria with very high number of primary and secondary schools coupled with high educational enrollment without a University.

Ilesa is the only headquarters of an ethnic group, Ijesaland without a University.

Ilesa is the only community in Osun state with one of the highest contribution to the Internally Generated Revenue of Osun state without a University.

Ilesa is undoubtedly the largest community, second to the state capital; Osogbo in Osun state without a University.

Ilesa is the largest community in Osun state agitating for a university in the last thirty years without a response.

Ilesa is the only community in Nigeria who is willing to support her quest for university with financial contribution from members of the community.

The Journey so-far towards re-enacting the hope for a University in Ijesaland: ‘If we look long enough and hard enough ... we will begin to see the connections that bind us together, and when we recognize those connections, we will begin to change the world.’Muriel Rukeyser

This revolutionary journey passionate commenced when Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi (The Asiwaju of Ijesaland), a worthy leader and forerunner for Ijesaland development in his quest to pursue the common objective for the transformation of Ijesaland forged the paths and organized great Ìjẹsàs for many impressive projects that are community-driven. He has been focal to stimulating many Ìjẹsà sons and daughters both at home and in diaspora to support the revolutionary drive towards the transformation of Ijesaland. 

Many among the revolutionary exploits that distinguished this illustrious Ìjẹsà; Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi swiftly through strategy halted impending fiasco as a result of the blackout in Ijesaland by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). However, in his premeditated approach to resolving the matter, prompted a tripartite Crisis Resolution Meeting involving the Government, The Ijesa people and The Management of IBEDC which resulted in the restoration of electric power supply to Ijesaland. 

This was held on the 10th April, 2019 with the Governor of the State, His Excellency, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in attendance. It was on the occasion of the satisfactory resolution of the crisis that Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi took the privilege to excuse His Excellency; Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in a private discussion on the most sizzling need of Ijesaland, which is the upgrade of the College of Education, Ilesa to a University. The idea that a burning desire is the starting point of all great achievement was evidenced in the pre-emptive and visceral step taken by Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi for the upgrade of College of Education, Ilesa to a University which has undoubtedly began to show forth the beacon of hope for Ijesaland in having a university. 

The corresponding effect of this discussion with the Governor; Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola is the request for a proposal for the upgrade of the College of Education, Ilesa to a University. The subsequent most important event that filled the need to submit to this clarion call of setting up a University in Ijesaland was on the 26th December, 2020 at the event of the commissioning of the famous and fantastic Owa's Palace when every one of the dignitaries from varying sphere of influence, world-achieving Ijesas and traditional rulers expeditiously got up in consenting to the call of Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi for the upgrade of the College of Education, Ilesa to a University. 

The indisputable positive reactions of individuals within the sight of the media and how it astonished the Governor of Osun State propelled Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi to expedite the establishment of University Project Consultative Committee (UPCC) under the chairmanship of Chief Akin Akinola (Baba Sawe of Ilesa) with the essential backings from Prof. Isaac Adewole, Prof. Rotimi Tayo, Prof. Duro Oni, Prof. Kola Kazeem with other exceptional Ijesas for the conversion and upgrade of the College of Education, Ilesa to University.. 

‘Power does not reside in institutions, not even the state or large corporations. It is located in the networks that structure society.’ -Manuel Castells

The University Project Consultative Committee (UPCC) met through series of strategic meetings in the journey to build up a cutting-edge approach that is consistent with leading universities in the 21st century that engage in equipping the total person for global impacts. Profound experiences, technical proficiencies and unalloyed competencies were all harnessed together from the wealth of experiences of all the members of University Project Consultative Committee (UPCC).  

The University Project Consultative Committee (UPCC) therefore proceeded after the draft to engage the various Pan-Ijesa Societies (whose membership caught across communities in Ijesaland) for a Stakeholders’ meeting in the bid to promote all-inclusive development in Ijesaland. The Stakeholders’ meeting held on Saturday, 26th June, 2021 with the leadership of all the Pan-Ijesa Societies. 

Interestingly, they all listened with apt attention to the presentation of the proposal and in their unanimous response, all the leaders of the Pan-Ijesa Societies present at the stakeholders’ meeting with no exception endorsed the Proposal for the Upgrade of Osun State College of Education, Ilesa to Osun State University of Education, Science and Technology, Ilesa.

After due diligence and appropriate engagements of all stakeholders in Ijesaland, the carefully crafted Proposal for the Upgrade of Osun State College of Education, Ilesa to Osun State University of Education, Science and Technology, Ilesa is elegantly presented this day Friday, 6th August 2021 to His Excellency, The Executive Governor of Osun State, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.Below is the list of the Ijesa Leaders present at the meeting:

Chief Akin Akinola - Chairman

Asiwaju ‘Yinka Fasuyi -Vice Chairman I

Prof. Isaac Adewole -Vice Chairman II

Engr. Yemi Oguntominiyi -General Secretary

Alh. Lateef Bakare- Financial Advisor

Mr. Babatunde Aiku, SAN- Legal Adviser

Prof. Duro Oni- Member

Prof. Rotimi Tayo- Member

Hon. Gbenga Onigbogi - Member

Mr. Supo Shadiya- Member

Sir. Ademola Aladekomo- Member

Lady Dupe Ajayi Gbadebo- Member

Mr. Olaniran Olayinka- Nember

Prof. Kola Kazeem- Member

Chief Gbola Akinola- Member

Prince Bimbo Olashore- Nember

Prof. Olusoji Ilori- Member

Barr. Funmi Obisan- Member