A governance debate is unfolding in Ijesaland following a detailed public statement issued on February 14, 2026, by the Asiwaju of Ijesaland and Chairman of ICDA, Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi, concerning the management of the University of Ilesa Nursing Laboratory Building Project.

The project, financed through community donations and administered by the Trustees of the University of Ilesa Endowment Fund, is now under scrutiny over procurement procedures, contract variations, financial disclosures, and account governance.

According to a project status report signed by:

• Chief Akin Akinola (Chairman)
• Engr. Yemi Oguntominiyi (Trustee/Treasurer)
• Lady Dupe Ajayi Gbadebo (Trustee/Secretary)

the initial contract sum of ₦128,075,592 was increased by 20% (₦25,615,118) to reflect inflation, raising the revised contract sum to ₦153,690,710. Additional variations reportedly brought the total contract figure to ₦155,172,195.

Asiwaju Fasuyi argues that:

• The methodology used to compute the 20% adjustment was not disclosed to donors.
• Supporting Bills of Quantities (BOQs) were not circulated.
• A significant portion of the additional cost had already been disbursed before broader stakeholder consultation.

He contrasts this with earlier community-funded projects that operated under fixed-sum contracts designed to eliminate cost variation.

Procurement Process and Tender Concerns

Fasuyi alleges that unlike previous landmark projects such as the Owa Obokun Palace Project and the Ijesaland Geriatric Centre, the Nursing Laboratory project did not publicly advertise its tender in national newspapers.

He also questioned:

• The criteria used to identify the four shortlisted firms.
• Why detailed technical evaluation score sheets were not shared.
• Why architectural, structural, mechanical, and BOQ documents were not made available to donors.

He emphasized that prior projects maintained strict separation between:

• Project Management Team (PMT)
• Project Monitoring & Evaluation Committee (PMEC)

According to him, such structural separation ensured checks and balances that may not have been clearly reflected in the Nursing Laboratory project.

Reference to the 2020 Owa Palace Tender Model

In reinforcing his position, Fasuyi referenced documented procurement procedures from the 2020 Owa Palace Project.

According to the Technical Evaluation Report dated February 29, 2020, the evaluation meeting was held in Ilesa and included a structured technical and financial review process.

Technical Evaluation Criteria Included:

• Registration
• Tax Clearance
• Bankers’ Reference
• Relevant Experience
• NYSC/Completion Certificates
• Equipment
• Staff
• Local Preference

The report documented tender submissions from multiple firms, including:

• MultiCAD Nig. Ltd
• Snow Trust Ventures Ltd
• Schoolmates Contractor
• Sussy Int. Nig. Ltd
• Onicon Resources Ltd
• Blue Fortunes Ltd
• Soluk Eng. Co. Ltd
• Centre Base Consult
• Job Partners Nig. Ltd
• Hermon Project Ltd
• Takoni Nig. Ltd

Financial Disclosure and BOQ Error Correction

The 2020 report disclosed that an error in the original Excel BOQ sent to bidders resulted in understated figures. The Quantity Surveyor computed corrected figures and tabulated the differences.

For example:

MultiCAD Nig. Ltd

• Original: ₦203,085,871.75
• Corrected: ₦216,372,086.01
• Difference: ₦13,286,214.26

Snow Trust Ventures Ltd

• Original: ₦215,625,209.25
• Corrected: ₦226,412,296.75
• Difference: ₦10,787,087.50

Blue Fortunes Ltd

• Original: ₦191,554,527.31
• Corrected: ₦200,693,876.23
• Difference: ₦9,139,348.92

The Consultant’s Estimate was also disclosed:

• Original: ₦214,074,615.81
• Corrected: ₦226,747,468.31

Out of eight compliant firms, four were recommended for further discussions, while three were disqualified for failing to meet tender advert requirements.

Eventually, Snow Trust Ventures Ltd was awarded a fixed ₦200,000,000 contract under strict non-variation terms, including:

• Independent Quantity Surveyor oversight
• Negotiation meetings involving consultants
• A liquidated damages clause of ₦50,000 per day
• An explicit “no variation” clause
• Downward cost negotiation prior to award

Fasuyi maintains that comparable safeguards were not transparently applied in the Nursing Laboratory project.

Account Structure and Alert Notification Concerns

The discussion also extends to the project account titled:

• OWA PALACE PROJECT/IJESA UNIVERSITY PROJECT
  Guaranty Trust Bank
  Account No: 0657487529
• Originally opened under the University Project Consultative Committee (UPCC), Fasuyi states that:
• The operational structure later transitioned to the Trustees of the University of Ilesa Endowment Fund.
• The account name remained unchanged.
• He stopped receiving transaction alerts despite being an original signatory and donor.
• He described the alert removal as unexplained and in need of clarification.

Donation Timeline Reference

In outlining the history of contributions into the account, Fasuyi noted that Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, made a donation on November 13, 2023.

The reference was made strictly within the context of the account’s donation timeline. No allegation or suggestion of involvement in project administration was made regarding the cleric.

₦30 Million Equipment Allocation

On December 31, 2024, ₦30 million was reportedly transferred to the University of Ilesa for laboratory equipment procurement.

Fasuyi contends that:

• The proposal was disclosed shortly before the transfer.
• Equipment procurement could have been coordinated directly by the project team with university technical input.
• Full documentation of procured items should be presented to the Ijesa community.

Trustees of the University of Ilesa Endowment Fund

The Trustees administering the project are listed as:

• Chief Akin Akinola (Chairman)
• Hon. Gbenga Onigbogi
• Prof. Rotimi Tayo
• Prof. Oye Gureje
• Engr. Yemi Oguntominiyi (Treasurer)
• Prince Gbenga Lufadeju
• Lady Dupe Ajayi Gbadebo (Secretary)

As of press time, no formal response has been issued by the Trustees.

 

Fundraising Performance

The Endowment Committee reportedly set a ₦1 billion fundraising target in August 2021. According to figures cited by Fasuyi, approximately ₦212 million had been raised as of February 2026 — representing about 21% of the target.

He suggested that donor confidence may be influenced by perceptions of transparency and disclosure practices.

 

Broader Governance Themes

The debate now centers on:

• Fixed-sum versus variable contract frameworks
• Tender publication standards
• Disclosure of BOQs and evaluation reports
• Separation of execution and oversight functions
• Stakeholder consultation prior to financial disbursement
• Bank account governance and signatory transparency

While the Nursing Laboratory building has reportedly been completed, observers note that the governance conversation surrounding its execution may influence future community-funded development initiatives in Ijesaland.