Fact-Check: That 70% of University of Ilesa Staff Are from Ede Remains Unproven

Claim: Facebook users have posted that 70% of the staff at the University of Ilesa are from Ede, Osun State. One of the posts further alleges that out of 285 employees recruited by the university, 250 were from Ede.

Verdict: Unproven

Full Text

Another claim circulating on Facebook states that candidates from Ede have dominated the University of Ilesa’s recruitment process.

The post was posted by Timileyin Oyeniyi via his Facebook account on the 11th of July 2026, claiming that in 2025, the University of Ilesa recruited 285 people, with 250 of them from Ede.

He also claimed that in a separate recruitment exercise, 70% of those hired were from Ede; the post had attracted 35 likes and 93 comments.

The post reads, “Last year Uni Ilesa recruited 285 people; 250 were recruited from Ede under the instruction of COS. Another exercise was secretly conducted again recently; 70% are still from Ede. Osun, wake up!!!”

Screenshot of the claim made by Timileyin Oyeniyi on Facebook

Similarly, a claim by Governor Ifedolapo Osun was posted that 70% of the University of Ilesa staff are also from Ede, which has garnered 115 likes, 128 comments, and 12 reshares.

“70% of the University of Ilesa staff today are from Ede.”

Screenshot of the claim made by Governor Ifedolapo on Facebook

The claim comes as Osun State’s 2026 off-cycle governorship election approaches, a period when narratives capable of shaping public opinion and political debate are likely to spread.

The posts have drawn reactions from social media users, particularly in the comments, where some have raised concerns about fairness, regional representation, and possible political influence in public sector recruitment.

Since Governor Ademola Adeleke is from Ede, allegations insinuating that people from his hometown are dominating recruitment exercises could lead to voters raising eyebrows and seeing it as regional bias within the state.

Given the sensitivity of employment-related claims and their potential to deepen ethnic or regional divisions in Osun State, NDRFactCheck examined the claim to inform and educate the public during the election period.

Verification

NDRFactCheck reviewed publicly available information on staff recruitment at the University of Ilesa and found that the social media posts offered no documentary evidence, recruitment records, staff database, official report, or statistical breakdown to support the claim that 70% of the university’s workforce is from Ede.

Searches of official statements from the University of Ilesa and the Osun State Government found no published data confirming that 250 of the 285 employees recruited were from Ede.

NDRFactCheck also contacted Mr Babatunde Fanowopo, Senior Assistant Registrar of the Corporate Services and Information Unit at the University of Ilesa, via WhatsApp. He dismissed the claim, saying the university’s appointments and recruitment are guided strictly by institutional staffing needs, approved establishment, academic and professional qualifications, competence, and due process.

He added that although inclusion and diversity are important, ethnicity, religion, and political affiliation are not criteria for filling vacant positions, making such claims inaccurate and misleading.

Conclusion

Our findings show no publicly available evidence that 70% of University of Ilesa staff are from Ede or that 250 of the 285 employees recruited by the institution came from Ede.

Therefore, the claim remains unproven and misleading unless credible evidence, official records, or independently verifiable recruitment data are produced to support it.

Please follow and like us: