Date: 2020-09-15

Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University, Professor Muhammed Mustapha Akanbi in company of other top hierarchy of the institution, paid a courtesy visit to the the Olosi of Osi, Oba Salihu Abdulkareem on Friday, 11th September, 2020.

The Vice Chancellor hinted that his prime reasons for visiting Osi town are to inform the Kabiyesi of the new leadership of the University and to visit and inspect the Osi Campus of KWASU -The campus proposed for the College of Environmental Studies.

In his opening remarks, Professor Akanbi said he had earlier planned to visit the Olosi, but the earlier scheduled visitation was thwarted by the prevalence of the Corona Virus pandemic.

Speaking further, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, apprised the traditional ruler of the management's plan to take advantage of the town's fertile land to venture into commercial farming, so as to enable indigenes of Osi community reap the benefits of the university's presence in their town.

Professor Akanbi, in a show of reverence, presented an artwork bearing the king's portrait to him.

Responding, His Royal Highness, Oba Salihu Abdulkareem thanked the Vice Chancellor and members of the school management for finding him worthy of such great courtesy and allayed the Vice Chancellor's worry, saying that he is aware of his tight schedules.

He further expressed his profound joy at the University's plan to commence agricultural activities in Osi, noting that such initiative would not only bring about development to the agrarian community, but ensure enhanced economic activities in the town. The Oba also decried the appaling incidents of vandalisation by some unscrupulous elements who are intent on carting away building materials at the construction site.

He said, he had mobilised vigilantes to mount security surveillance on the facility, in an attempt to forestall theft by hoodlums.

Oba Salihu implored the University's Management to continue to visit the facility from time-to-time so as to avert further vandalisation.

While feeding questions from journalists during the inspection of the project, Professor Akanbi said that the university will explore the arable land to kick-start agricultural activities which will offer massive benefits to both the institution and the community.

He noted that a technical committee will be mobilised within a short time to conduct soil sampling on the land in order to determine the appropriate crop farming to adopt.

The Vice Chancellor further expressed satisfaction at the ambience of the environment, given its beautiful scenery, flowing river and a mountain view.

In his final submission, the erudite scholar expressed dissatisfaction at the slow pace of work on the site. According to him, "For a project that was supposed to have been completed in 2018 to be at forty eight percent completion in 2020 is not encouraging enough". He promised to look into the anomaly so as to hit the ground running again.