The Nigerian First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has decried the poor maintenance culture prevalent in Nigerian institutions, urging authorities to adopt sustainable practices that will ensure the longevity of infrastructures.
Speaking during the official commissioning the 2.7km road, Grand Pavilion and Ultra-modern male and female Ojaja hostels named after her by Ooni of Ife, at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, where she donated ₦1 billion for infrastructure development.
The first Lady who graduated from OAU 41 years ago, lamented the deteriorating condition of the institution, emphasising that universities globally maintain their facilities despite being centuries old.
“Most institutions around the world, built over 200 years ago, still look good because of a robust maintenance culture, something that is sadly lacking in some Nigerian universities,” she remarked.
During the event held at the university auditorium, the First Lady fondly recalled her time at OAU, when environmental cleanliness was a priority.
She urged the institution’s management to ensure the preservation of its infrastructure.
“What I saw upon my arrival was not pleasant. In our time, we used to clean the environment ourselves. I urge the authorities to maintain existing infrastructures while continuing to develop new ones,” she said.
Mrs. Tinubu commended the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, for his efforts in supporting the university and congratulated him on his 50th birthday celebration.
She noted that many global universities thrive due to the continuous upkeep of their infrastructure, calling for a similar approach in Nigeria.
In his address, the Vice Chancellor of OAU, Professor Adebayo Bamire, assured Mrs. Tinubu of the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and infrastructure preservation.
He further announced that the newly constructed road would be named after the First Lady in recognition of her contributions to society.
