TheCable

The Kwara state house of assembly has proposed to revert the law changing the name of the only state-owned higher institution from Abubakar Sola Saraki to Kwara State University (KWASU). 

This was contained in a statement released by the information department of the assembly.

A bill for a law to revert the name of the institution passed second reading on Wednesday.

The AbdulFatah Ahmed administration had initially passed a law to change the name of the university in honour of Abubakar Olusola Saraki, father to ex-senate president Bukola Saraki.

However, the law was not implemented immediately due to financial constraints.

“The Kwara State University (Amended) Bill, 2019 is to amend the Kwara State University Law, No.13 of 2008, to among other things, revert the name of the University from Abubakar Sola Saraki to Kwara State University,” the statement read.

The house noted that due process was not followed to effect the initial name change.

Reading the resolution of the house, the Yakubu Salihu, the speaker, referred the bill to the house committee on tertiary education to conduct a public hearing on the matter on a yet to be picked date.

Speaking on the development, Sheriff Ibrahim, special adviser on media to Salihu, said there was no political undertone to the name-change.

“If the former government because of the financial situation of the state cannot even implement the change. Changing the name of the University to Abubakar Sola Saraki University, why? Of what significant is it to the state? The finance that would be used to implement the change should be used to serve the better interest of the state,” Ibrahim said.

“It will even tell on the goodwill of the institution. You know I am a graduate of KWASU, and it’s still a very young university. Changing the name will have an effect on the goodwill fo the school,” Sheriff said.

“It is in good intention and not for political reasons. It is in the best interest of the state.”