IJESALAND STAKEHOLDERS MEET TO BRAINSTORM ON CURBING ILLEGAL GRAZING OF CATTLE BY FULANI HERDERS AND ILLEGAL MINING ON UNIVERSITY OF ILESA CAMPUS (PHOTOS)

Stakeholders at a-day meeting on the two issues of mining activity and Illegal grazing/cattles incursion within the premises of the University of Ilesa have agreed that the menace totally negate universal provision of conducive environment for learning in the University campus, in addition to the security challenge these two issues pose to the lives of both the students and the University Staff.

The session hosted by Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi, Asiwaju of Ijesaland and Chaired by Oba Engr. Olufemi Agunsoye, the Elegboro of Ijebujesa, at the instance of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran II CFR LLD, was held at the Adekunle Aromolaran Civic Centre, Ilesa, Osun State on Wednesday 20th March, 2024 and had in attendance lots of key players that critically brainstormed on the way forward and unanimously decided that the cattle owners should be made to take their cows out of the campus.

"We definitely cannot afford the University of Ilesa to suffer from any untoward threat arising from these two activities, hence, all hands must be on deck to jealously protect our common heritage!" Many contributors echoed 

Pro. Taiwo Asaolu, Vice Chancellor, University of Ilesa in his introductory remark announced that the illegal mining within the premises of the University of Ilesa dated back to the period before the commencement of the University and that the large number of cattles and herders in the campus certainly calls for concern.  

"This ugly development within the campus has escalated to the Special Adviser to the Osun state governor on security where a Special Committee is already addressing the issues." He said 

Voicing opinions and concerns at the session, contributors expressed their views on the relationship between the pastoral herders and the indigenous Ijesa real owners of the cattles and generally agreed that all Ijesa stakeholders should at this time exhibit more of patriotism than personal business interest and subdue their individual economic interest for the survival and growth of Ijesaland collective commonwealth.

Present were Ijesa High chiefs including, the Ogboni of Ipole-Ijesa, the Ogboni of Ilesa, the Oba of Ilesa, Obaala of Ilesa, Odole of Ilesa, the Yeyerise of Ilesa, the Vice Chancellor and some staff of University of Ilesa, Chairmen of Ijesaland local government areas, representatives of Egbe Omo Ijesa, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Police Force, Federal Fire Service, Religious bodies, Hausa community, Igbo community, Ijesaland hunters, market men and women, okada riders associations amongst others.

Coverage, photos, script: Oladimeji Lasore (+2347035105413, [email protected])

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