According to a news report from the Nigerian Tribune, the Kwara State University (KWASU) is set to welcome over 1,380 students to its Ilesha-Baruba and Osi campuses for the 2024-2025 academic year.

In a statement by the university's acting director of University Relations, Dr Saeedat Aliyu, it was announced that 1,200 students from the Faculty of Agriculture and 180 students from the Faculty of Environmental Sciences will soon resume academic activities on these campuses.

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the university's council, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali, has encouraged the people of Ilesha-Baruba and Osi to prepare to welcome the staff and students, ensuring a warm and supportive environment for their academic pursuits.

Professor Ambali made the charge when he led members of the Governing Council of the institution to the palaces of the Emir of Ilesha-Baruba, HRH Professor Halidu Abubakar, and the Oba of Osi, HRH, Oba Salihu Abdulkareem Adasofegbe Arowobeku I as part of the Council’s tour to assess the level of construction on the campuses.

The Pro-Chancellor noted that the inspection of the construction presently ongoing showed great improvement and advancement.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the state government and that of the KWASU management to begin academic activities on the campuses, which he noted would fulfill the dreams of the people of the areas while bringing significant development to the regions.

Professor Ambali congratulated both communities for being the sites for the campuses, urging the traditional rulers to prepare their people to welcome the students who would soon be a part of their kingdoms.

In their separate responses, the Emir of Ilesha-Baruba, Professor Halidu Abubakar, and the Oba of Osi, Oba Salihu Abdulkareem Adasofegbe Arowobeku I, noted that their communities were eager for the students to join them, promising that they will be received with the best of hospitality.

The Emir of Ilesha-Baruba, Professor Halidu Abubakar, on his part, noted that his community was a cosmopolitan one, being home to the largest livestock market in West Africa.

He encouraged the university to leverage the presence of the market in the community by commencing the Veterinary Sciences part of the Faculty of Agriculture to add more value to livestock development in the state.

Both traditional rulers lauded Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for ensuring that the dream of having operational campuses of the university in their domain did not die, pledging to do their best to help integrate both staff and students who would soon become a part of their communities.

It be recalled that Kwara State University was designed to be a multi-campus institution with campuses in Malete, Ilesha-Baruba, and Osi. The concerted effort of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is about to bring this dream to fruition 15 years after the establishment of the university.