OAU to build own airport soon, says VC

The Management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, on Monday disclosed plans to build an airport within the campus of the institution soon.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede,  hinted this during the 2019 Faculty of Technology International Conference, held at OAU ICT Park recently, saying that the airport would serve as training ground for the planned aeronautic programme of the university.

The vice-chancellor said, “We believe that the future of travel globally is in the air. It is in view of this that we are starting an aeronautic programme. As part of this, we will be having our own airport.

NewsTrack checks shows that the University has an airport in its master plan. Meanwhile our investigation reveals that the institution is yet to be achieved to its full capacity based on its master plan.

OAU has been been playing host to aerospace research and having an airport would only aid research, which has been part of the vision of establishing the University.

According to one of the academic staff who spoke to NewsTrack on the condition of anonymity, he said that the University, going by the vision behind its establishment, is flying at half mast.

He disclosed that the University was equipped for Nuclear research, which he said can solve power problem in the country.

He therefore called on the Federal Government to revive research in the core areas so as to help to solve some of the Nation’s problem.

He maintained that Universities are research centres and are established with a view to providing solutions to the need of the community and the country at large.

He therefore called on the federal government to look into the vision behind setting up some of the Universities and task them, and provide whatever they need to achieve set goals.

He however supported the intention of the Vice Chancellor and his team to build airport to solve travelling needs of the people and to also create the right atmosphere for research in aeronautic programmes.

It will be recalled that South African Students recently built an aircraft, which flew and landed safely. He feels that Nigeria has so much in stock on the part of Nigerian Students who have not been tasked but have proven beyond reasonable doubt that they can hold their own.

He boasted about the resources in the Citadel of learning, calling for challenge.