In its bid to overcome the transportation challenges facing the students and staff of the University of Ilorin, a consortium, the Intramodal System Consortium, has indicated its readiness to construct a tram transit system for the institution.

The leader of the Consortium and Chairman of the Steering Committee, Mr Adekunle AbdulRazaq Oyinloye, disclosed this during a meeting with the University management at the weekend.

Recall that the Vice Chancellor, at a media parley to mark his first 100 days in office, announced the University’s desire to construct intra-rail system to cushion the persistent transportation challenges being experienced by staff and students of the institution.

However, speaking during the meeting, the Chairman, Steering Committee of Intramodal System Consortium, said that the consortium was inspired to come to the Vice Chancellor because it was impressed by his plan to build a rail line in the institution.

Oyinloye, who was with a colleague, Nelson Oladimeji, explained that because of the cost implications which may run into billions of naira, his consortium will rather help the University with the construction of the tram system instead of rail.
He said that the university will carry a small burden of the construction cost while the majority of the expenses will be borne by the consortium in partnership with the lender.

He also noted that the consortium sees this as an attempt to solve intra-campus transportation challenges, adding that if the plan comes to fruition, UNILORIN will be pioneering a major intra-campus tram transport solution in Nigerian institutions.

The Steering Committee Chairman said that the partnership between the University and the consortium will be mutually rewarding, adding that it will solve the University’s problem into the future and create easier conveyance of staff in a concentrated environment like the University. He also said it would be a learning environment for the engineering students.

Oyinloye, who pointed out that the Consortium plans to make the tram transit easily accessible and convenient to all prospective passengers, stated that as the traffic builds up, the revenue will also go up, and management will be able to service the debt and create wealth.

Responding, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, said that the University is excited about the ability of the Consortium to meet her needs. He expressed his conviction that the tram project is doable.

Prof. Egbewole said that he foresees a future for the University where everything is done in a more comfortable manner and where the staff and students go through less stress in their day-to-day activities.

The Vice Chancellor said that he believes that the mission will have its own challenges but he is resolute to confront the challenges head-on to ensure the University community goes through less stress.
Prof. Egbewole explained that the dream to have another source of transportation within the University campus has been on for almost 20 years. He, however, said that the will to pursue the dream and the bureaucracy are some of the factors hindering its actualisation over the years.

He stated that the need for alternative means of transportation has become even more pressing now that the federal government has stopped fuel subsidies in the country, a decision, which he said, might compound the transportation challenges being faced by Nigerians, including the staff and students of the University of Ilorin.

With the Vice Chancellor to receive the team were the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olubunmi Abayomi Omotesho; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Sulyman Funsho Ambali; the Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla; the Bursar, Mr Hakeem Sonde; and the University Librarian, Prof. Kamaldeen Omopupa, among others.