The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Tuesday commissioned six projects at the University of Ilesa, declaring that his administration had fulfilled its pledge to transform what was once described as an audio pronouncement by a previous government into a functioning institution.

Speaking before students, staff, and top government officials at the commissioning, Adeleke said, "To our royal fathers and the entire Ijesa sons and daughters, I have fulfilled my pledge to make this university a reality. Your dream, our dream, is a reality that nobody can play politics with."

The commissioned projects include a remodelled Faculty of Law annex building, a remodelled Faculty of Public Health building, a reconstructed internal road network, new hostel buildings, a female medical hostel, and a Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences building.

The governor credited his administration with enacting the state law establishing the institution, securing accreditation for several courses, converting all temporary and contract staff from the defunct Osun State College of Education to permanent and pensionable status, and implementing new salary structures, including payment of arrears.

"With strong political will, we appointed world class administrators to man the university. We oversaw a smooth transition from the defunct Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, to a university without any negative effect on staff," Adeleke stated.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Ashaolu, expressed gratitude to the governor, noting that the institution had grown considerably since its establishment. "In just three years, UNILESA has grown from a vision to a thriving academic community of 12 faculties, one College of Health Sciences, 110 academic programmes and over 15,000 students," he said, adding that the growth had positively impacted host communities and the state at large.

Adeleke also installed Mrs Victoria Samson, Chief Executive Officer of Bovas Group, as the third Chancellor of the university, describing her as a capable successor to Apostle Folorunso Alakija. The governor had earlier commissioned a sports complex, a three in one laboratory complex, a 500 capacity lecture theatre, and a 750 capacity lecture theatre at the institution's main campus in Osogbo.