Brief History of Osun State University
The birth of the idea of a University
On December 21, 2006, the National Universities Commission approved Osun State University as the 30th State University and the 80th in the Nigerian university system. The event climaxed a 15-year agitation for a university. Shortly after the State was created on 27 August 1991, different communities took advantage of gubernatorial presence at State functions to pressure for a State-owned university. The project had remained at the bottom of the priority list of government until Prince (Dr.) Olagunsoye Oyinlola assumed office as Governor of the State in May 2003.
The idea of a university for Osun State was kindled in the mind of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola long before he was voted into power. As a youth in the early 60s, he envisioned a university for his community in the present Odo-Otin Local Government. The idea was significantly strengthened when he dutifully served as the Military Administrator of Lagos State. For over two years, he nurtured the Lagos State University as proprietor and Visitor. He began to solidify his experience in university management and he gained expertise in what it takes to set up and run a successful university.
On assumption of Office on May 29, 2003, he was briefed on the state of education in the State. He was on the lookout for a window to plug in the establishment of Osun State University into the education landscape. The briefing he got led to the conclusion that he might have to wait for a few more years in his term to make the project happen. Basic education, the foundation on which the university project would be built was wobbly. This had to be strengthened. Teacher morale was at low ebb. This had to be bolstered. The teaching force was depleted as a result of mass sack by the previous administration. These experienced teachers would need to be re-engaged. The financial outlay for all of these was gargantuan. The haste in setting up a university in spite of the stridency in the clamour for a university would need to be attended to with caution. At every opportunity, especially during the Open Forum, indigenes of the State asked for a university. For three years, his retort was clear and unambiguous - "no university for now; the financial resources for starting a university are not yet in place. At the appropriate time, we will have a university that you all will be proud of.”
The appropriate time came in September 2006 when the Governor announced the setting up of the Osun State University Planning Committee. Several months before and unknown to many, the Governor had initiated consultation with appropriate agencies and relevant individuals to begin the process of satisfying the requirements for approval by the National Universities Commission. Thus by the time the Planning Committee was announced, several months of intensive background work had been achieved. The Osun State House of Assembly passed the University Law in December 2006 and a new university was born.
Planning a Multi-campus University
The Planning Committee had membership drawn from a broad spectrum of stakeholders. The Committee recommended a multi-campus system with a collegiate structure for the university. The system was justified on two grounds. The need to serve the six geopolitical zones of the State with university education was a compelling reason. The second justification is economic. Manufacturing and small-scale industries are sparse in the State. The consequence is that the economies of most communities lacked vibrancy. The catalytic role on the economy of the presence of a university justified the establishment of campuses of the university in more than one community in the State. It is worth stressing that the model of the multi-campus system adopted did not replicate courses across campuses, insisted on phased development of programmes and strict adherence to carrying capacities thus deflating arguments of critics of a multi-campus arrangement for Osun State University. In all of these, mechanisms for the delivery of quality university education were stoutly entrenched in the University.
The University now has presence in the six geo-political zones of the State. The Campuses are located at Osogbo (main campus), Okuku, Ejigbo, Ifetedo, Ikire, and Ipetu-jesa.