FG Inaugurates Road at University of Ilorin, Kwara State

As part of efforts to make tertiary institutions across the country conducive environments for teaching and learning ,  the Federal Government has inaugurated a 2.75km internal road at the University of Ilorin,  Ilorin  Kwara State. This is  to ease movement within the institution and its environs.

Shortly before the inauguration, the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN   said  that  the country’s tertiary institutions were benefitting  from the commitment of bridging infrastructural needs embarked upon by the Federal Government.

“The gap of our infrastructural needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways and it has gotten to the schools,” the minister remarked.

Fashola, represented by the Kwara State Controller of Works Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engineer Rafiu Lasisi,  noted, “It is undebatable that the quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment and those who doubt it should simply listen to some of the feedbacks from students in the schools where this type of intervention has taken place.”

He added that the students have become zealous with regards to  attending lectures becuase of the restoration of some defective roads within these institutions  while in some cases new ones were constructed to facilitate accessibility to different parts of the institutions.

According to the Minister, the Federal Government has successfully intervened in 64 internal road projects in various tertiary institutions and handed over 46 as at March, 2022.

The Minister averred that the  road intervention projects have contributed to creating jobs for Nigerians  in line with the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, revealing that about 85 people were employed during the construction of the internal road at the institution.

In addition, he said the project was an investment in education and encouraged the school to use the asset properly and not abuse it.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, represented by the Director Accademic Planning, Prof. Arosanye Godwin Tunde commended the Federal Government for the quality of the asphalt work done on the  road and noted that a section of the road was vital because of its  link to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

“The road is  pivotal to the movement of staff and students between the main campus and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital through the College of Health Sciences,” the Vice Chancellor remarked.

He revealed that the road intervention has significantly reduced  travelling time, vehicle operating cost and has  led to increased comfort and convenience during trips.

Prof. Egbewole enjoined the Federal Government  to consider the institution for  additional road intervention within the university, especially, the road between the main campus and the school of preliminary studies at Fufu.

In addition, the Chief Medical Director, Unilorin Teaching Hospital, Prof. Abdulla Dasliva Yussuf who was represented by the Deputy Chairman,Medical Advisory Committe( Clinicals), Dr. Matthew Bojuwoye, while expressing gratitude to the Federal Government for the quality of work done on the road intervention, said that the road would ease the difficulty experienced by the staff and students of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

He noted, ” We cannot overemphasize the importance of this road. Before the road was constructed, it was quite difficult for our students to move, especially the clinical students  from their hostels to the clinic areas where they have access to the patients.”

Prof. Yusuf  also  disclosed that the road was important because it would serve as an alternative route for the hospital staff to exit the hospital, especially in times of crisis which could result to blocking the major access routes to the hospital.

Students Union President, Faji  commended the Federal Government for constructing the road stating that it would ease movement and students would have access to basic  medical facilities since the barrier has been removed due to the road intervention.