By Olawale Ogunbusola, Ibadan

A member representing Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West Federal Constituency and Oyo South Senatorial Candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, APM, Hon. Adedeji Olajide, has pledged N50 million for the UI Students Legislative Summit, vowing to continue mentoring youths in his constituency and across Oyo State.

He stated this during his induction ceremony into the University of Ibadan Students’ Union held at Adeoyo Ring Road, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

The federal lawmaker, fondly called Odidiomo, commended the unity and development within the student body, saying more advancement would be recorded if students are properly mentored.

Hon. Olajide described his new role as a challenge, stressing his readiness to deploy all his resources to transform students of Oyo State and the University of Ibadan for a more competitive future.

“My new role will be to help them restore values and discipline. I also made a joke that male students should remain focused and avoid distractions on campus,” he said.

Hon. Odidiomo, a globally recognized philanthropist and ICT professional, said the induction would help to expand students’ social networking. He noted that as the world goes digital, the donation of 20 laptops to Oyo State Youth Parliament through the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, that will help the Youth practise digitally.

“Yes, that was one of the reasons I gave them 20 laptops. You know the digital gap in our society is so wide that we need to start aggressively closing it. Like I told you, I am going to launch a digital centre very soon and I want them to also be part of it. All of them that come will also be enrolled in a training programme that I personally will facilitate for our students,” he added.

The federal lawmaker also counselled the newly inaugurated Youth Parliamentarians in Oyo State to remain focused, dedicated, and united for greater political exploits in the near future.

In his reaction, the Speaker of the University of Ibadan Students’ Legislative Council, Rt. Hon. John Oludele, described the induction of Hon. Adedeji Olajide Odidiomo as a reward for his inestimable contributions to students’ development across Oyo State and Nigeria.

He said the honour is comparable to the honorary citizenship conferred on Prof. Wole Soyinka in recognition of his global contributions to Arts and Literature, adding that the induction would spur Hon. Olajide and other like-minded individuals to do more for the students’ community.

“That is why we deem it fit to induct him into the University of Ibadan Students’ Union, because this is a huge commitment to the development of students. He has a history of developing youths across Oyo State,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chairperson of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union Representative Council Legislative Summit and a Law student, Oluwagbemileke Ajayi, who hinted about the UI-Odidiomo September Legislative Summit, urged government to address infrastructural deficits in higher institutions in Nigeria.

She said such intervention would improve learning conditions and advance the student community, while successful individuals should return to mentor students in their alma mata and other tertiary institutions.

“The hostels, library, classrooms, ICT rooms, and mentorship must be improved for a conducive learning environment and to make our students competitive,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Prince Adebowale Falana, commended the federal lawmaker for his impact across the state, vowing to support his future political ambitions.

The event also featured meetings with new Oyo State Youth Parliamentarians, serving and past students’ representatives including President, National Association of Oduduwa Students, Comrade Benedict Adetunji Olalere, President of the Senate, National Association of Polytechnic Students, Comrade Festus Oyewumi, members of the press, among others.