Vice-Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Ayodeji Agboola, on Monday, canvassed the establishment of a town and gown event to strengthen the relationship between the students and their host community.
Agboola said this during the OOU Town and Gown Day, held to mark the 40th foundation day anniversary.
He said that both the school, which comprised the students and their lecturers, and the host community have many things to learn from each other.
According to Agboola, “OOU was established 40 years ago, we flagged it up in January and we actually believe in history.
“There’s nothing you’re doing, even, if it’s research, if it doesn’t have the component of town, the society, then it’s useless.
“It is always important to have both gown and town working together all the time.
“We’ll be doing it yearly now so that people in town will know that we’re not their enemies, and people in the university will also know that people in town are their friends and we can come together all the time to celebrate.”
Corroborating the VC’s submission, the Ebumawa of Ago-Iwoye, Oba AbdulRazaq Adenugba, and the Olu of Ibogun- Showunmi, Oba Timothy Oyebola lauded the university for the event.
Adenugba enjoined other universities to hold town and gown events like OOU, saying, the schools and the host communities have a lot to gain.
Oba Oyebola added that the event would bring more peace and sharing of culture among the parties.
