The vice chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has cleared the air on the university’s alleged plans to build an airport. 

The VC explained this during an entrepreneurship event organised by First Bank Nigeria in the school recently.

During the event, however, the vice chancellor addressed the reports and attempted to clarify particular points that appeared to be the bone of contention for the students. 

“Very recently we said that the university was going to have (its) own airlift and then I (discovered) that some students were going around the halls of residence saying that it is the money for their welfare that is going to be used to build airport in the university.

“It was very amusing that we still have some of our students thinking like that. If you have a question on anything, you ask. You don’t go around saying things that are not possible,” he said.

He further explained that the university had a 30-year-old agreement with some countries in West Africa and this agreement is what will enable the university to bring a proposed aerial strip into fruition.

“Over 30 years ago, this university established a regional centre for aerial training…Part Of that programme was to have an aerial strip for the training and nine governments from West Africa signed an agreement to say that they supported that aerial strip in Obafemi Awolowo University.

“So, what we were doing is to renew that agreement and we have spoken with them and they have agreed. We also have the land to be able to do that, so we are not doing anything that is not possible.”