Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has approved the retention of the governing councils of all state-owned tertiary institutions for another term, citing their performance in strengthening higher education in the state.
The governor said the decision is intended to sustain stability, strengthen institutional governance and consolidate gains recorded across the education sector.
Oyebanji announced the decision on Monday while receiving members of the Governing Council of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), Ikere-Ekiti, led by the institution’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Prof Patrick Aina, at his office in Ado-Ekiti.
According to the governor, retaining the councils will ensure continuity, policy consistency and sustained progress in the administration of state-owned tertiary institutions.
The institutions affected are Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti; Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti; Ekiti State Polytechnic, Isan-Ekiti; and Ekiti State College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ijero-Ekiti.
Oyebanji commended the governing councils for what he described as their visionary leadership, experience and commitment, saying their efforts had contributed to improvements in academic standards and infrastructure across the institutions.
He noted that although his first term would end in October, maintaining governance structures that have delivered positive results was necessary to preserve the momentum of ongoing development.
The governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for tertiary institutions to thrive, stressing that education and human capital development remain central to his government’s agenda.
“On behalf of the Government of Ekiti State, I am extremely grateful to you for your contributions to the growth of BOUESTI. I am proud of the strides recorded, and it is clear that the future is bright.
“I am aware that this administration is winding down by October, but when a system is working, there is no need to disrupt progress. I am retaining all the governing councils of our institutions. I don’t want to truncate or limit the progress that is going on in those institutions,” he said.
Earlier, Prof Aina congratulated the governor on his re-election, describing the outcome as an affirmation of the confidence Ekiti residents have in his leadership and development agenda.
He said BOUESTI had recorded significant growth under the Oyebanji administration through sustained government support and investment.
Among those present at the meeting were the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Habibat Adubiaro; the Chief of Staff, Niyi Adebayo; the Commissioner for Education, Dr Olabimpe Aderiye; the Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode; BOUESTI Vice-Chancellor, Prof Babatunde Omojola; and other principal officers of the institution.
