President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the upgrade of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro in Ogun State to a Federal University of Technology, Ilaro.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
This development comes a year after the Senate passed the bill establishing the university, sponsored by Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Ogun West). The bill had previously been introduced during the 9th Senate but failed to secure full legislative approval at the time.
Reacting to the approval, Senator Adeola expressed deep gratitude to the President in a statement issued by his media adviser, Kayode Odunaro.
“I sincerely appreciate Mr. President for hearing the long-standing call from my constituents in Ogun West, the only senatorial district in Ogun State without a federal university. We are grateful that President Tinubu saw the merit in establishing a university of technology in this vital industrial hub of the state,” he said.
Senator Adeola recalled that efforts to upgrade the institution began as far back as 2016 during the 8th Senate under Senate President Bukola Saraki, where the bill passed only in the Senate before that legislative session ended.
“In the 9th Senate under Ahmed Lawan, the bill made it through both chambers of the National Assembly but was not signed into law by then-President Muhammadu Buhari. Today, in the 10th Assembly and under the leadership of President Tinubu, my decade-long dream has finally become a reality,” Adeola added.
Under President Tinubu’s administration, no fewer than 22 federal universities have been approved across the country. These include:
- Federal University of Medical Sciences, Abeokuta, Ogun State
- Federal University of Agriculture, Iragbiji, Osun State
- Federal University of Agriculture, Obio Akpa, Akwa Ibom State
- Federal University of Education, Pankshin, Plateau State
- Federal University, Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State
…among others.
The upgrade of Ilaro Polytechnic is seen as a significant boost to educational development and industrial growth in Ogun West.
