SACOETEC Governing Council and Management Meet Host Community Leaders
On Wednesday February 5, 2025, the Chairman of SACOETEC Governing Council, Prince Adewole Sowole along with Governing Council members Reverend Bola Oyeledun and Maj. Gen. Bamidele Matthew Shafa (Rtd), met with the Obas and traditional leaders of the host communities of the College. the meeting was held under the aegis of Town and Gown, a platform designed to foster cordial and progressive relations between the College Community and her host communities. Eight communities are hosts to the facilities and students of the College. The host towns/communities are Omu, Jobore, Irete, Igbile, Erebe, Ibido, Ikise and Oke-Orundun.
In his opening remark, Major General Bamidele M Shafa Rtd, Chairman of the Security Committee of Town and Gown, thanked everyone for coming, He remarked that the meeting was delayed to allow the Governing Council settle in and put modalities in place for this meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to set an agenda to sustain and strengthen the cordial relations between the College and the communities for more dividends. The Governing Council Chairman while also thanking the communities for attending the meeting, asked for improvements where they are needed.
The Elerebe of Erebe and Chairman of Town and Gown, noted that the school is an economic hub for hosts and must be embraced. He stated that the hosts do not joke with the College and encouraged everyone to continue to contribute to the growth of the College.
Speaking more elaborately, the Council Chairman pointed out that an appointment to head the council of schools like Olabisi Onabanjo University would have been more attractive for anyone, but the reality is that their assignment is SACOETEC, a far more challenging and demanding terrain. He commended the immediate past provost of the College, Dr. Adeola Kiadese Lukmon, for the bold steps he had taken to position the College.
The Chairman stated that the challenges they found at the College were many, beginning with the process of finding a new provost to the huge challenge of poor enrolment. Whereas the location of the College has been fingered as primary suspect for the poor enrolment, he felt it could be seen as both a disadvantage and advantage. The Council is presently determined to build on the advantages while working on the disadvantages. For instance, in admitting only 900 students in the previous session, the College was stranded with a backlog of three billion naira to keep the school afloat. He therefore pointed out that everyone needed to lend a hand to the admission process to improve the statistics.
He informed the hosts that the College was putting in place a 400-room hostel within the College, and immediately pointed out that this was a marketing strategy to get students to choose the College and not intended to rival house owners in the communities. He also informed that TETFUND has plans to build a 1600-bed hostel, which may be a bit more expensive. While identifying the immediate challenges the College must overcome, he solicited their prayers and continuous support, hoping that the relationship between the College and the Community would be symbiotic. He assured that he would visit the Kabiyesis individually in the course of time.
In her remark, the Provost, Dr. Modupe Ayodele Oba-Adenuga expressed appreciation for the cordial treatment of the students in the communities. She mentioned the recurrent cases of house-breaking especially when the students are away on Teaching Practice vacation. She appealed with the host to help to curtail such occurrences.
The Dean of Student Affairs, Mr. Gilbert Adelagun Shabi, presented the report of the Town and Gown Committee. Top on the list was security, for which some students have left the College as their parents feared for their safety. This has reduced considerably but still remains an issue needing close attention. The high cost of securing student accommodation was another pressing issue. Other challenges were those of harassment of students up the point of cases of rape and harassment. He also pointed out that the College had poor enrolment of children from the host communities, some of who prefer commercial bike-riding for immediate gain. He encouraged the hosts to help their children see the benefits of getting education right on their doorsteps. He also touched on conflict situations with landlords and with enforcers of traditional rites and festivals, appealing to them to always bring student matters to the College for resolution rather than taking the law into their own hands. He rounded off with the matter of encroachment on school land.
While reacting to the report by the Dean of Student Affairs, the Chairman mentioned that there is marketing strategy ongoing, trying to show the world the College. He said he was looking forward and working towards bringing more commerce into the area. He said it is the will, and the desire of His Excellency and Visitor to the College to transform the College, which means even more commerce.
In his response, HRH Oba (Dr) Abdul Ganiyu Olusegun Yesufu, Kutimehin 1, the Onirete of Irete Land assured that they would look into the matter of cost of housing for the students. He said a committee would be set up between Irete and Jobore to stop land encroachment. He rounded off with an advice to the College to look more into the conduct of students while they are in the community, citing an instance of fighting over girlfriends with the students resorting to the use of charms against themselves. On the same note, he advised for more awareness from the College to her students for instance on the manner of their dressing.
In his contribution, the Jaun of Igbile Land, HRH Oba Abdulsalami Kolawole suggested that the Office of Student Affairs needs to be strengthened so that a realization that they need positive report from Student Affairs to graduate would compel students to behave well. He also underscored the need for bus shuttle from the College gate, suggesting that a synergy with operators of ‘korope’ buses is achievable. He pledged support for the school, declaring that his people are happy with the school being in their locality.
HRH Oba Sunday Olufemi Ogunbanjo, the Kobowore of Jobore Land advised that to resolve the land encroachment issue, there is a need to know where the school land ends to know where the community could hold their own activities, build their businesses and homes. He gave assurances of support for the College and her visions.
The Olomu of Omu Land, HRH Oba Mobolaji Oludaisi Mosuro Ramuja III expressed delight at being invited to the meeting, noting that it was the first time he was attending it. He advocated regular meetings albeit the Obas may not attend all, representation would be sufficient to ensure that matters of importance continue to be raised and addressed.
The Baale of Ikise, High Chief Olusegun Osayintola further emphasized the matter of security, noting that no effort made in the direction of security of lives and property would be considered too much.
The Baale of Ibido, Alhaji High Chief M. A Majowogbe, while pledging to ensure the safety and security of students, stated that matters of security could not be left to the police alone. He again touched on the matter of dressing among the students.
In his remarks, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Sowo Adekunle enlighted the gathering on salient issues attending cases of rape and harassment and solicited urgent support to enable them serve better.
Other contributions dwelt on
i. cultism among students and the need to reduce cult activities to barest minimum if not stamped out.
ii. The need to train local security support units on how to deal with student-related issues
iii. The need to improve lecturer-attitude to their work and mass failure, which Alhaji Sikirullai Ogunlana pointed out is one of the reasons for low enrolment.
iv. The need for students to pay due respect to traditional activities of their hosts
v. The need to involve community leaders and structures during admission processes to help drive awareness.
The Council again thanked the communities for their response and contributions, assuring that everything discussed would get appropriate attention.
On behalf of the College, special awards were given to four Obas in appreciation of their immense contributions to the well-being of the College and her students.
