By: Sunday Adepoju
THE very respected and quintessentially esteemed Governing Council of the fast growing Federal Polytechnic Ayede, located in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, will, this Monday, arrive the campus for the very first time. This visit, no doubt, represents a significant milestone in the annals of the only federal polytechnic in Oyo State, for the first time after its inauguration in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory last month. In truth, the entire polytechnic community, led by the esteemed Rector, Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed, has been frantically awaiting the arrival of the second Governing Council for their first meeting, representing the sixth in succession since the institution’s establishment in 2021. Not even in a hurry, the management, staff and students cannot forget the very invaluable contributions of the pioneer Governing Council ably led by a legal giant of high standing personality and professional wizardry, Professor Dakas Clement James Dakas (SAN) and other eminent Nigerians who have led the institution to the level it is now. The feat the institution has achieved cannot be discussed without referencing other Principal Officers (Registrar, Mr. Akin Odesola; Bursar, Alhaja Rashidat Titilola Oladepo and Polytechnic Librarian, Dr. Samuel Oke Ogunniyi), Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments and Units, and staff generally, with the attendant challenges of pioneering the institution.
The relentless efforts of the pioneer council and management led to the institution’s strings of firsts among its peers established in 2021. Interestingly and with humility, Federal Polytechnic Ayede was the first to invite the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in November 2022 for resource inspection where thirteen programmes were presented, leading to the approval of four Departments: Computer Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Science Laboratory Technology, and Statistics. Intent on having more programmes, the institution, during the festive period of December 2023, the NBTE was invited for resource verification which led to the approval of eight more National Diploma (ND) programmes in Accountancy, Business Administration and Management, Public Administration, Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technology, Agricultural Technology, Tourism Management Technology, Urban and Regional Planning, as well as Estate Management and Valuation. When the past council was dissolved, we never knew God, through the Federal Government, would still give us another progress-personified and highly resourceful council, led by Barrister (Mrs.) Ademubowale Mercy Adelabu with members: Alhaji Aminu Bala Sokoto, Chief (Mrs.) Monisola Tegbe, Alhaji Modu Goba Minter and Chief Matthew Adesanya., including the representatives of the host community and Federal Ministry of Education.
No doubt, each of these distinguished Nigerians, with avalanche of great experiences, will contribute maximally to the progress of the fast growing institution that is reputed for meeting the needs of the society in terms of entrepreneurship and skills development. Now, as the chairperson and members of the council, across the country, visit for the first, I wish them all safe trip to Oyo State, Ogbomoso and the polytechnic campuses in Iresa-Pupa (take-off site) and Ayede (permanent site) in Suurulere and Ogo Oluwa Local Government Areas of the state respectively. I, therefore, beseech all the communities, traditional rulers, community leaders, the political class, organisations, among others, having stakes with Federal Polytechnic Ayede to be hospitable and have robust relationship with them with a view to achieving accelerated development.
We appeal, as an institution, to the various stakeholders at the federal, state and local government levels to be supportive of the lofty ideas and development plans of the management and the new governing council. Beyond that, individuals, private organisations and philanthropists are advised to channel their influence towards the development of the young institution. Suffice to say that the institution has received donations of projects and facilities from many sons and daughters of Ogbomoso communities like Alhaji Lamidi Monsur Ayoade, Chief Festus Ajani, Alhaji (Chief) Alimi Sarumi, Arc. Sakiru Suara Morafa, Ogbomosoland Consultative Council (OCC), Ogbomoso Pivotal Club, among others. Ab initio, among others, the roles of traditional institutions like the Aresa-Pupa of Iresa-Pupa, Oba Moses Olayiwola JP, Ajiboye III; the Onpetu of Ijeru kingdom, Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran, Lagbami Osekun III cannot be understimated. Of great importance is the role that the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afọlabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, is expected to play in the area of education as contained in the 25-Year Development Plan for Ogbomosoland. This, we believe, the first class monarch of international connection and exposure will do, even, for our polytechnic.
At the institution’s permanent site, many projects are ongoing and there is a need for the new council to complement the good efforts of the management towards facilitating access roads; from Idi Araba, Odo Oba or Oolo axes of Ogbomoso zone. The major factor hindering the institution from commencing administrative and academic activities at the permanent site is the lack of access roads to the site. Electricity, security and other basic amenities are factors, too. It is, therefore, imperative for the management and the new council to revisit the Oyo State government, based on earlier established relationship led by the pioneer council with the support of traditional institutions. It is, therefore, our clarion call on Governor Seyi Makinde, who hosts the polytechnic, to assist in the areas highlted.
- Adepoju is Protocols and Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Oyo State.
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