The Oyo State House of Assembly has commenced the legislative process for the proposed upgrade of the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igboora, into a full-fledged university.
The Bill, titled “A Bill for a Law to Make Provision for the Establishment, Constitution and Functions of the Oyo State University of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora and for Matters Connected Therewith,” passed its first reading during plenary on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
The Bill was co-sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, representing Ibarapa East State Constituency; Hon. Peter Ojedokun, representing Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North State Constituency and the Leader of the House, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin.
Peoples Conscience authoritatively gathered that the proposed legislation seeks to establish the legal and institutional framework for the creation of the Oyo State University of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora. It is expected to provide for the administration, governance, powers, functions and responsibilities of the proposed university.
If successfully implemented, the proposed upgrade would change OYSCATECH from a college of agriculture and technology into a university, giving the institution a broader mandate to offer degree programmes and undertake higher-level teaching, research, innovation and other academic activities.
However, the timing of the legislative initiative may naturally attract public attention, particularly given the limited period remaining in the tenure of the current Oyo State House of Assembly.
With less than 10 months remaining before the expiration of the present Assembly, questions may arise as to whether the legislative process, subsequent executive consideration, implementation and other administrative requirements can be concluded within the available timeframe.
The timing may also prompt discussions about why the proposal is only now receiving legislative attention, considering that Hon. Peter Ojedokun has served for seven years in the Assembly and has chaired the House Committee on Agriculture, while Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin has also served as Speaker during the current administration.
Another issue that may require clarification is the route through which the proposed legislation is being pursued. Unlike an Executive Bill, which originates from the executive arm of government and may be given accelerated consideration where there is political and legislative consensus, a private member’s or House-originated Bill ordinarily passes through a number of legislative stages before it can become law. These stages may include second reading, committee consideration, public hearing where applicable, consideration of the committee report, third reading and passage, followed by assent by the Governor.
Consequently, the passage of first reading, while an important step, does not by itself guarantee that the proposed university will be established before the expiration of the current Assembly.
This raises a number of legitimate questions for stakeholders in Ibarapa and Oyo State: Can the entire legislative process be completed within the remaining 9 months of the Assembly? What assurances are there that the Bill will receive the necessary executive attention and assent within the available timeframe? And, beyond the passage of the law, what concrete plans exist for funding, accreditation, staffing, infrastructure and the eventual transition of OYSCATECH into a university?
There is also the question of continuity. If the process is not completed before the expiration of the current Assembly, what mechanism will ensure that the initiative is reintroduced from the scratch by the next Assembly and administration?
For residents and stakeholders in Ibarapa, therefore, the issue may go beyond the announcement of the Bill itself. The key consideration would be whether the proposal can progress from legislative intention to an operational university within a clearly defined and realistic timeline.
The proposed upgrade has significant implications for education, agriculture, research and human-capital development in Ibarapa. However, its ultimate significance will depend not only on the passage of the Bill but also on whether the necessary legislative, executive and institutional processes are successfully completed and implemented.
There is also salient question of political continuity and accountability. If the Bill is not fully implemented before the expiration of the current Assembly, could there be a situation where responsibility for its non-completion is subsequently attributed to lawmakers or an administration that succeeds the present government, irrespective of whether they belong to the same political party? Conversely, there may also be concerns about how future developments are presented, particularly if subsequent administrations starts the process from the scratch and the individuals associated with the first reading later claim ownership of the eventual outcome, even though only the few will believe that they are not telling the truth when such situation arises.
These are questions that may reasonably be addressed from the outset to avoid ambiguity over responsibility, ownership and continuity. The people of Ibarapa deserve to know precisely what stage the proposal has reached, what remains to be done, the expected timeline for completion and which institutions or authorities will be responsible for each stage of the process.
This becomes necessary given Oyo State’s existing tertiary education landscape, which includes state-owned universities, a federal university of agriculture in Okeho, as well as several polytechnics and monotechnics.
In view of this, the Assembly may also need to provide the public with a clear explanation of the specific need for another university, the proposed institution’s distinct academic mandate, its expected funding structure and how it would complement rather than duplicate existing institutions across the state.
The proposed university may represent a positive development for Ibarapa if successfully established and properly funded. However, the public interest requires that the initiative be accompanied by realistic timelines, clear implementation plans and measurable commitments.
At a time when political activities ahead of the next elections are already beginning to take shape, it is important that initiatives of this nature are communicated primarily as long-term development programmes rather than simply as political achievements. The people of Ibarapa deserve sufficient information to independently assess the substance, feasibility and likely outcome of the proposal.
Ultimately, the important question is not merely who introduced the Bill or who receives credit for its passage, but whether the proposed university will become a functioning institution that delivers quality education, research and opportunities to the people of Ibarapa and Oyo State. That distinction will be determined not by the first reading, but by the completion and implementation of the process.
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