Kunle Adelabu
The Director of the National Open University, Ikorodu Model Center, Prof. Ajibola Kazeem Oluwatoyin, a Professor of Applied Mathematics, has stated that the Federal Government has invested N1bilion in bring the model facility to lkorodu, stating that the centre is special to the community.
Prof. Ajibola, who, was the immediate past Dean, Faculty of Sciences, Lagos State University (LASU), also revealed how long he and an Igbogbo – born retired Professor of Mathematics, Prof. Michael Ajetunmobi, have been in the pursuit of bringing the NOUN centre to Ikorodu.
Operations at the lkorodu Model Centre of NOUN, kicked – off this year.
The Director, NOUN, Ikorodu Model Centre, spoke at the graduation ceremony for COHORT I, IT Launchpad program, a training programme organized by the Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG), in partnership with ZKT, at the Barrister S.A.B. Oteju ICT & Innovation Hub of the Musediq Alogba E – Library & Research Centre, Ikorodu Ultra – Modern Town Hall, Ikorodu, on Saturday, August 26, 2023.
“Myself and Prof. Michael Ajetunmobi have been working towards bringing this Open University to Ikorodu, for about nine years and he even donated his property for the purpose. But it never happened until now. We are at the Ogbara’s building at Jumofak”, he disclosed.
“The Federal Government has invested N1billion in Ikorodu. The government has bought parcel of lands at Itamaga, and the two buildings that will be there have been paid for”, Prof. Ajibola added.
Prof. Ajibola, who congratulated the COHORT I graduates of the IDRDG/ZKT Launchpad Training Program, also charged them to work toward acquisition of ICT and STEMI (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Innovation) to be able to stay competitive and relevant in the future world.
He pledged to grant members of COHORT I admission, if they make five Credits in their WAEC.
Incidentally, Prof. Michael Ajetunmobi, who is the Vice Chairman, Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG), was at the occasion alongside Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, former Minister for Works and Chairman, IDRDG, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District and Dr. Abiodun Fatai – Abatan, senior lecturer, Department of Political Science, LASU, among others.
Prof. Ajetunmobi, who is now a Consultant at NOUN, Ikorodu Model Centre, thanked Prof. Ajibola for his persistent and relentless in ensuring that the center eventually came to Ikorodu.
“We have been running helter – skelter for about ten years to find a place for NOUN in ikorodu, but the procedure with the federal government is very difficult”, the Professor of Mathematics, said.
“He has tried a lot in bringing the center to Ikorodu. Prof. Ajibola, we are extremely grateful. In fact, we have been to Oba of Igbogbo, when we couldn’t get a location for the centre and when they couldn’t bring NOUN, the King was very disturbed.
“I hope that they will still bring something for us in Igbogbo, since we couldn’t get NOUN. It is now in Ikorodu and we are still very grateful”, he said.
