Fedpoly Ile Oluji will become centre of excellence – Fasakin

By Banji Ayoola

The Federal Polytechnic, Ile Oluji, in Ondo State, has within four years it actively took off, grown to become Nigeria’s fastest growing institution. Of Nigeria’s 112 polytechnics, it is now ranked 13^th.

This spectacular feat has earned the leadership of the institution a special presidential commendation, with President Muhammadu Buhari lavishing uncommon praises on the Management. For instance, at its maiden convocation on November 28 last year, the President had noted especially that the institution’s pioneer leadership had laid a solid academic, physical and infrastructural foundation for the polytechnic, despite financial challenges.

The President, who was represented at the occasion by the Minister of State for Education, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, commissioned ten physical projects worth billions. They included the Administrative Building housing offices of Principal Officers and other strategic offices, a dualised access road to the permanent site, electricity supply, two auditoria, School of Engineering Faculty Block, ceremonial gate house and a block of laboratories.

Apart from these, work is ongoing on other projects including the School of Management Building, School of Agriculture Technology Building, School of Applied Sciences Building, the Polytechnic Library as well as procurement of technological equipment, instruments and laboratory consumables.

Also, within these four years, the institution, which took off with five programmes, has graduated a total of 291 National Diploma holders, constituting its first two sets of students. They included 141 for the 2017/2018 pioneering set and 150 for the 2018/2019 set.

Now, the institution runs 12 programmes including seven new programmes newly approved by the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE. These are Agricultural Technology, Architecture, Accountancy, Business Management and Administration, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science Cooperative Economics and Management, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Fisheries Technology, Science Laboratory Technology and Statistics.

Besides, as confirmed by the students, the academic calendar has been seamless since inception.

A walk around the permanent site of the institution along the Ile Oluji – Ipetu Ijesa Road, shows a huge construction site dotted with magnificent structures seen in notable institutions. The gate opens up to a well paved dualised road leading to the expansive permanent site on which sit some completed projects including the massive Administrative Building, School of Engineering Building, Twin Auditorium, Lavatory together with many others that are ongoing.

In an exclusive interview with The Radiance, the institution’s pioneer Rector, Prof Emmanuel Adedayo Fasakin spoke of how the journey has been. He was corroborated by the Principal Officers. Besides, other top Management staff, lecturers and students spoke glowingly about an institution which has turned an adult at four.

In an excerpt from the interview, Prof Fasakin said: “The best student we had is now in India. He competed with people from the universities, and he beat them. He has got a scholarship. Many of them like that are working in different places. Some of them are on their own. The economy we are talking about. We just want to produce students that are self reliant, able to use their brains and hands. That is one of the things we are focusing to make us different from other institutions. So when they come out they are not going to be job seekers. They would be jobs providers. This is technology. And you can imagine, Fedpolel, the Federal Polytechnic Ile Oluji at four, and we are around 13^th position out of 112. Who are the others behind you from 14 to 112? These are the institutions that have been established several years ago, thirty years ago. What position, if you say we want to rank them from the age grade? You now found yourself among the top 13. So we are an adult. We are four but we are already in the adult stage. And it is because of what the Lord has helped us to achieve. We have achieved a lot of things. We have our books; we prepare ourselves; we have the academic brief; the master plan; we have done all the things that are needed for categorisation or grading or ranking of any institution, they are already here. With thanks to the Lord, we have the vision, and for the type of the staff and students we were able to get at the initial stage.”

Apart from reeling out the novel achievements recorded by the institution in its first four years of existence, the Rector also unveiled other plans to turn the institution to the first choice among admission seekers in Nigeria.

Following is the interview:

At your maiden convocation in November last year, President Muhammadu Buhari praised the Management and Council of this institution especially for what he called your wonderful performance since take-off. How do you feel about this?

First of all I must thank the Lord because it is His doing; it’s not me. I am so excited; I am so elated that the President recognised us and the modest achievements that we have made. I know it’s unprecedented for a new institution to have moved to where we were, to move from the temporary site to the permanent site within a period of four years. It’s just a period of four years.

The first two years, there was nothing. This place was void and we were not even captured in the budget in the first year. There was no salary because they had completed the budget. So there was nothing on ground for us. We weathered the storm to have today very commodious buildings. The type of buildings that we have here, you would get them only at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and other very big institutions.

This place has come to stay. We have a very strong footing. We have a network of roads, good buildings, equipment and programmes. We have 12 programmes now, whereas those people we met on ground, or with whom we were established at the same time, are still battling with only two programmes. We have graduated two sets of students. So, we are like five years old boy behaving as adult. Indeed, it’s the Lord’s doing, not mine. We give Glory to Him.

How did you make it? How has the journey been so far?

The journey has been rough, but we have been very consistent. We have been very hard working. People have been doing their work. Everybody is working on his or her beat. I also thank all members of staff, the pioneer set and those people we have added. We have worked as a family. We work together. I am moving them and they are following me. They key in to the vision of this place.

I know it’s very difficult as pioneer set of staff, even our students too as pioneer set. We believe there are no obstacles too difficult to be surmounted. So we thank the Lord; and we thank TetFund, because all we have here, most of the buildings you see are TetFund. We have been blessed to have the normal intervention and even some zonal and high impact from TetFund. The little we are able to garner from our capital, we use to support. We have roads. This place is rugged, but we are making the best use of our environment, and it’s coming out fine.

What are the further plans?

We have bigger plans. Since we are getting established in terms of infrastructure, the next thing for me is to develop the content. We need to have a content; that is pedagogic content of the institution. It’s like when you have an institution, the infrastructure, the roads and all those things, water, electricity, they just make up the shell of a snail. But it is the snail itself, what is inside, that matters.

That is what we want to develop in terms of teaching, research and get the right type of staff to train the students so that we can break through, so that people would know us for something. I want to build a centre of excellence. This is my intention now. That is the next phase of my action here, that we can get an institution that could say “we are producing this, we have patent for this.” We would be celebrated. So we would be known for some of what we produce. The next thing is the content development.

What are the contributions of the institution to the national economy?

There are lots of things. The products of any institution are the graduates produced. Our students are doing very well. We have job rating from where they have done their IT and from where some of them are who are already working. We are just new but we are already making waves in the industry.

The best student we had is now in India. He competed with people from the universities, and he beat them. He has got a scholarship. Many of them like that are working in different places. Some of them are on their own. The economy we are talking about. We just want to produce students that are self reliant, able to use their brains and hands. That is one of the things we are focusing to make us different from other institutions. So when they come out they are not going to be job seekers. They would be jobs providers. This is technology.

As we expand, we would expand most of our trades, most of our programmes to include some of the areas of the middle level manpower; and government said we should even focus on the high level manpower. Our students at the HND level, when we have it, would be able to compare favourably with those people who have graduated from the universities. But the difference is that they would be able to do the practical work, be supervisor, foreman and even establish on their own. That is how the economy of this country would develop.

Some of us are happy. Where we are in this country is a lesson, and we know that there would be a time when we get to this level, when the ministry would be saturated and people would now think that the ministry is not the only place they can find job. People now are learning.

And I must tell you, in Kigali, Rwanda, the President said that those people who have graduated from the universities are looking for jobs for the past six, seven years, they couldn’t get. They opened a polytechnic for them to go and learn trade, either for one year, depending on what you want to learn. And it would come to that. Individuals are struggling to do that now. So they need to equip; and the polytechnic must also be equipped to meet the needs and yearnings of the nation.

Could you explain what is meant by the saying: “Federal Polytechnic Ile Oluji is an adult at five?”

We are more or less doing what other bigger adult institutions are doing. The age of an institution when we say four years is even below the age of four years son or daughter of anybody because if you go abroad, you would see an institution of almost 500 years old. It is a long journey. If we are just four now and you are having the attributes of older institutions, you are already an adult. That confirms it when you hear some boys or girls talk. It’s wisdom that makes them to be adults.

And you can imagine, Fedpolel, the Federal Polytechnic Ile Oluji at four, and we are around 13^th position out of 112. Who are the others behind you from 14 to 112? These are the institutions that have been established several years ago, thirty years ago. What position, if you say you want to rank them from the age grade? You now found yourself among the top 13. So you are an adult.

We are four but we are already in the adult stage. And it is because of what the Lord has helped us to achieve. We have achieved a lot of things. We have our books; we prepare ourselves; we have the academic brief; the master plan; we have done all the things that are needed for categorisation or grading or ranking of any institution, are already here. With thanks to the Lord, we have the vision, and for the type of the staff and students we were able to get at the initial stage.

Your area of specialisation, Fishery…

I am in Agriculture but with specialisation in Fishery, and I am a fisher of men and women.

As an erudite professor of Fishery, one would expect that you run the programme here. Why?

It’s already here. It’s one of the programmes that have been (newly) accredited. It has been accredited and we have admitted students to start. They are resuming next month. (March 2020). You would see them if you come here. And if you go to our take off site, our farm there, you would see ponds, fish. Even before they come, we have already started. The impacts are also being felt; you know that this is an agrarian area.

You cannot have an institution without the complement of Agriculture. We have it there. Agriculture is here. The essence is that schools like this must be able to impact the society. The environment must be able to feel it.

I am happy that you are here today (February 31). Today we are giving certificates to those we have trained here, the people extracted from the community, to teach them modern Agriculture, to improve on their livelihood. The school must be able to touch the life of people. We are giving certificates to the first batch of those we have trained. We are young but we have some other institutions that are older than us, 30 years, 40 years but they cannot do that. This is the thing. This is the vision, and that makes us different.

When the President of Nigeria and Visitor to your institution comes here for your next convocation, what would he meet on ground?

We expect a lot of changes. We are not sleeping. He that is down needs fear no fall; but the one at the top. We are very conscious of our development. We want to add more. We are adding values to ourselves every day. If he comes here, he is going to see transformation. Every day we add value; every day we add things. There are changes every day. It’s very evident; it’s what you can see. The development here is what anybody can hold. One year, that’s a long period of time. A lot of transformation should have happened. You cannot meet us where we are; we would have moved.

What is the magic behind your administration?

The magic is that we believe in God and sincerely whether you are a Christian, Muslim, all faiths, we pray together and we put our supplication in His Hands. And we work. We plan, we work and we hold meetings regularly. Every Monday of the week, the principalofficers meet; we look at what we need to do; plan ahead and we also have the Management meeting. Those at the Management cadre, we meet once every month. We discuss and see; projects are assigned to individuals. Tasks, we review them; how far you have gone on them. Then we map out and follow.

There must be focus. We are focused here and we are determined to move; and we are all working together. So when you have a team working as a family and you also have a leader who is leading, carrying out the vision and he has made other people key into that vision, definitely there would be no problem. We are moving and we are moving tremendously.

How has it been easy for you to attract funds and support from the Federal Government and other stakeholders?

It’s like somebody who is given talents. We read in the Bible that people were given talents. You are given talents and you are able to spend your talents very well; whatever you are given, you are able to invest and people can see. So, they would be eager to support you.

We are making waves. You yourself that is here, you see what is happening on campus. It’s unbelievable, unprecedented. So anybody who has given us money sees the value of the money. We have told our people. We just want to serve. It’s the Lord Who rewards. We can have award, productivity award, appreciate those who have excelled; but it is the Lord Who is rewarding.

We have laboured here. I cannot compare what my friends and colleagues are enjoying like individuals. It’s determination that we are going to make it. So it is determination that is driving us that we must achieve. Once you have a set goal, let’s go there; let’s achieve it. And we are being encouraged. In the community, we don’t have any problem. We are operating in a very peaceful environment; no distraction. There are no unions that are virulent, that would disturb our goings. So everybody works like a team. If you work together, you would go far; and we are going far.

Is there any further comment?

No. it’s just to thank the Lord for what He has done for us.

Prof Fasakin was born on 5^th March, 1956 in Omuo Ekiti, Ekiti East Local Government of Ekiti State. He attended Methodist Primary School in Omuo Ekiti between 1962 and 1969; Omuo Comprehensive High School (1970 – 74) and Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin (1976 – 77). He was at the University of Ibadan where he had both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Fisheries Management in 1982 and 1985 respectively. He had his Ph.D in Fish Nutrition and Utilisation at the Federal University of Technology, Akure in 1997. He was at the University of Plymouth, England between 2003 and 2004. He also had a Certificate in Management of Higher Education Institutions from Galilee College, Israel, in 2009.

Until his appointment on April 1, 2015 by former President Goodluck Jonathan as the pioneer Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile Oluji, he had held various positions of responsibilities in academia such as Head of Department; Dean, Students’ Affairs; Acting Vice-Chancellor; Member of University Senate; Chairman and member of several Statutory and ad hoc Committees; and two term Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), at the Federal University of Technology, Akure.          

His career path later led to specialisation and concentration in specific areas such as fish nutrition, post harvest technology, pond management, environmental and aquatic pollution. 

His research efforts have been focused significantly on alternative sources of feedstuffs for fish feed with emphasis on non-conventional, cheap and affordable feed ingredients for fish production in aquaculture enterprise.  Substantial research efforts have also been made in fish post harvest techniques.  All these research efforts have culminated into publication of several Technical Reports, 60 journal articles, 20 published proceedings and several articles have also appeared in the books of abstract, monographs worldwide. 

He has acquired over 25 years working experience in consultancy, research and teaching at the University, Research Institute, College of Education and secondary schools since graduation.  His consultancy assignments and experience have been largely sponsored and supported by the Nigerian government, United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP), British Council/Association of Commonwealth Universities, World Bank and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). 

He has bagged several academic and professional distinctions including the prestigious Commonwealth Fellowship Award in United Kingdom; apart from many honours and awards.

From 2002 till date, he has been an External Assessor to the University of Ibadan; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife; Federal University of Agriculture, Minna; University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko; University of Ado Ekiti; and University of Cape Coast, Ghana among others. A member of the International Chartered World Learned Society; and Visiting Associate Professor, University of Plymouth, England, U.K. in 2003, he was cited in Marquis Who is Who in the World in 2004.

His major field of study and professional competence are Fish Nutrition, Fish Processing and Utilisation, and Aquaculture; and he has to his credit many academic publications including the following Thesis/Dissertation: 

• Fasakin, E.A. (1982), Effects of processing and storage period on Trimethylamine (TMA) and Total volatile Nitrogen (TVN) in Alestesmacrolepidotus. B.Sc.   Dissertation, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

• Fasakin, E.A. (1985), Growth performance and nutrient utilization of Clariaslazerafed raw and cooked soybean meals at varying levels of incorporation.  M.Sc. Thesis. University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

• Fasakin, E.A. (1997), Studies on the use of Azolla Africana Desv. (water fern) and  Spirodelapolyrrhiza, L. Schieiden (duckweed) as feedstuffs in
  production diets for Oreochromis niloticus and Clariasgariepinusfingerlings Ph.D. Thesis, Federal University of Technology, Akure.

These are apart from many Technical Reports/Monographs and Conference Proceedings.

He has bagged several professional and academic distinctions, honours and awards. He has many technical reports and monographs and conference reports to his credit. He is married with children.

Fedpolel would soon rank among Nigeria’s three best polytechnics – Adetula

The Registrar of the institution, Mr. Felix Adetula, has predicted that Fedpolel would rank among Nigeria’s three best polytechnics in the next ten years. He hoped that those who would succeed the present Management would have the resilience, unity of purpose and determination to vigorously pursue the vision and mission of the founding fathers in moving the institution to greater heights.

Noting that the resilience, cooperation and determination to succeed of the pioneer staff especially the four Principal Officers helped in overcoming the initial challenges accounted for today’s success story, he acknowledged the contribution of the Ile Oluji community, Ondo State Government and the Federal Government to today’s success story.

He said that apart from President Buhari, every notable Nigerian who had been at the institution physically had praised the pioneer staff for the result of their efforts, which he described as a challenge to do more.

He thanked the individuals and institutions that have helped saying: “I thank the Lord for what has been achieved thus far and express appreciation to all those who have been helpful and useful to us in the course of this assignment. They are too numerous to mention.

The Registrar commended the Rector especially, describing him as the leader, visioneer and pilot; other principal officers and staff who he said had worked assiduously to contribute to the achievements recorded so far.

On further plans to build on the achievements, he said that the authorities are pursuing accreditation of HND programmes and admit more students.

On how he has mobilised the entire staff and resources of the institution behind the Rector to achieve the feat, he said that the vision and mission of the institution are usually relayed to the staff at their recruitment to ensure that everybody is on the same page.

The Registrar who was honoured recently as a Pillar of Academics, said this would spur him to do more for the society, adding that his dream and guiding principle had always been to do his best wherever he found himself now or in future.

Adetula was born on 21^st October 1961 to the late Pa and Mrs. Adetula of Ondo.

He had his primary education in Ondo. He  attended the famous Aquinas College, Akure from where he went to the then Ondo State College of Education, Ikere Ekiti and later to the University of Benin, Benin City where he had his first degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration.  He later proceeded to Adekunle Ajasin University for his Masters in Public Administration.

All his life, he has been in the educational sector teaching in the secondary school and then later becoming an administrative staff in the university and the first Registrar of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile Oluji.

Modern library to open before December – Olofinsawe

The library of the institution would move to the permanent site before December, as confirmed by the Polytechnic Librarian, Mr. Akin Olofinsawe.

He said that the ongoing new Library project at the permanent site would be in two phases. It would have ICT and open Library facilities where students would be able to read for 24 hours. Besides, there would be sections provided with many sockets for students and users to connect laptops. It would have circulation and reference sections, reading rooms and offices for the Polytechnic Librarian, his Deputies, supporting staff, porters, circulation desk, and other necessary facilities in a modern Library.

It would be built in two phases. The projected sitting capacity for the ongoing first phase is 2,500; while the second phase on completion in about three or four years would have not less than 5, 000 estimated sitting capacity including offices and other facilities for students.

On the initial challenges at inception and how they were overcome, the Librarian said: “At our inception, it was rough but when the Lord started, things changed by the time we resumed here.

He recalled that the intervention of former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who released the Mega School for the institution’s take-off averted its probable relocation elsewhere, in that the NBTE officials who came from Abuja had concluded that there was no facility for the take-off, as Gboluji Grammar School, initially given,  was unsuitable. And so it was that the polytechnic took off from the Mega School, which housed the five initial academic programmes and the Library. Besides, the Ile Oluji Oke Igbo Local Government donated its housing units on Ile Oluji – Ipetu Ijesa road which initially housed the administrative and Library staff.

On how he has been building the Library with the books and other necessary facilities, he said that his experience at FUTA where he had worked for almost twenty nine and half years in virtually every unit or section of the library either as the head or serving another individual, had equipped him sufficiently to know what it takes to set up a Library.

Olofinsawe who was appointed as the pioneer Polytechnic Librarian of Fedpolel, was born in Ile Oluji in 1958. He grew up there and attended primary school in one of the surrounding villages. From there, he moved to Gboluji Grammar School for his secondary school education between 1970 and 1977. He gained admission to the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife in 1987, and graduated in 1981.

After graduation, he worked in a brewery, and when the organisation folded up, he came back to Ondo State to take up a teaching appointment. From there, he went in for his Masters degree in Information and Library Science at the University of Ibadan. He came back to work briefly with the Ondo State Teaching Service Commission between 1987 and 1988.

From there, he joined the service of the old Ondo State College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, where he worked for a year. By April 1990, he crossed over to the FUTA as one of the Librarians. He was there for over 29 years, rising from Librarian 2 to become the Deputy University Librarian. He is on leave of absence to Fedpolel. When he completes his tenure by March 15 this year, he would go back to the FUTA as one of the Deputy University Librarians. 

We render transparent account of stewardship – Orina

The institution’s Bursary Department renders a transparent account of stewardship, according to the Bursar, Mr. Tobi Adewumi Orina.

He said that the accounts of the institution for 2015, 2016 and 2017 have been audited; adding that external auditors have come to audit and that these audited accounts have been circulated to the Federal Government, Auditor General, Accountant General and Ministry of Education. He said that authorities of the institution have rendered transparent account of their stewardship; noting that the 2018 account is being audited and he has the draft account with him ready for Council to consider.

He said the job of a Bursar who is the Chief Finance Officer and Adviser to the Chief Executive Officer is such a professional one that needs to be approached with utmost commitment. He said this is because the financial landscape is challenging particularly with regard to a new institution like Fedpolel.

According to him, the institution started on a very dismal note because when the pioneer Principal Officers came on board 1^st of April 2015, the Federal Government budget had been concluded.

His words: “That was the first challenge we had. We were not included in the 2015 budget. As an institution we had to exist. We buckled up. We went to Abuja to go and explain our plight. Fortunately we were able to meet with officers who were favourably disposed to our plight.

In that year we were able to get the assistance of the office of the Accountant General and the Budget Office to the effect that we were given supplementary allocation which they normally call Authority to Incur Expenditure. But it is not a normal budget provision. It is contingency provision. So we were able to get the allocation around September.

We existed for about seven months without salaries for the Principal Officers, four of us who came on board. That was a major challenge, but to the Glory of the Lord we got the supplementary allocation in September and we were able to defray all our salaries outstanding. We also got some money for overheads to run the institution. But prior to that, we were more or less soliciting assistance from our friends and former institutions to give us stationeries and so many other needs of the institution.

It was rough, but the Lord saw us through the first year. Subsequently in 2016, we were incorporated into the budget and we have been able to manage the resources of the institution very prudently and in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007. That is about the way we started.

All along, the institution has been able, through the focused leadership of our Rector, to access very substantial allocations from TetFund. The Chief Executive we have is a dogged fighter. He is an Administrator par excellence and he is a very forthright person. We were able to get all those allocations and you can see these translated to meaningful infrastructural development in this place.

So it’s been very encouraging despite the initial hiccups. Though the Federal Government gives normal allocation for capital, the substantial allocations for capital development came from TetFund. And we are still getting them now because the Chief Executive is all out. He concretises the relationship that we have already built with the various relevant offices in Abuja, the Accountant General, Auditor General, Budget Office and the Federal Ministry of Education.

So far so good, we’ve been able to make our mark and we have seen them translated to practical realities in terms of the structures we have. They are good buildings we can hardly find in most of the Polytechnics in this Country. It’s highly commendable, and that’s why some of us in Management decided to key into our Leader’s vision and give him the support that is needed to achieve our corporate goal.”

On husbanding the resources channeled through his office to achieve results, the Bursar said that in terms of transparency and accountability, the institution has been a vanguard for transparent financial reporting.

He said: “As a professional accountant, the onus lies on us to make sure that we prudently and efficiently manage the resources because at any point in time the resources would not be enough. We’ve been able to manage the resources. The government has even made provision for that because all the funds that are allocated have specific purposes.

The accounting is unique because it’s premised on what is called fund accounting principle which means that every fund is for a specific purpose. You cannot use capital for recurrent. We’ve been able to use the instrumentality of fiscal instrument to make sure that we manage without committing any infractions. We’ve been able to apply the rules and make sure that we get value for money.”

He advised his professional colleagues in other institutions in the country and those coming behind: “I always talk about one of those things I got from my former institution, Adekunle Ajasin University. We have this system we always leverage on, the legacy of a tenure. I believe that people can come and see what we have put on ground, the benchmark we have laid.

I want to encourage people who are coming behind that they should not go below that. Rather, in the spirit of total quality management, you strive to beat the status quo. I use to have interactions with my colleagues in other institutions. Most time they have the cause to ask me: ‘How have you been doing it?’ and we always counsel them.

To the Glory of the Lord, last year, I was invited to Badagry to be the resource person for the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro to give speech on challenges of public financial management which was highly celebrated and appreciated. I believe that those coming behind would see the standard we have put in place. And I always explain that they should strive to surpass it. I am sure that in the corporate world our names are there. We have made an impact.”

Orina hails from Ode Aye in Okitipupa Local Government of Ondo State. He started his education in Ode Aye. He went to Baptist Grammar School and left in 1982. Thereafter, he went to the Federal Government College Odogbolu, Ogun State,  for his A Levels. Thereafter, he was admitted to University of Lagos to read Accounting in 1984, and finished in 1987. He went for the youth service before he came back to start career in Ondo State.

He worked briefly in an investment company in Okitipupa before he got appointed into the then Ondo State University Ado Ekiti as an internal auditor. He left that place and went to the private sector in Lagos in one of the Shoprite group. He went to a finance company actually before I went there. He rose in the Shoprite Group to become the General Finance Manager before he decided to come back to the public sector because he was already pursuing a PhD programme.

He came back to Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko in 2004, and was appointed as the Chief Accountant. He rose to become a Deputy Bursar in 2011. The former Vice Chancellor, Prof Femi Mimiko recommended him to the Federal Government and he got appointed as the pioneer Bursar of the Federal Polytechnic Ile Oluji.

We’re building an institution of enduring value – Oyelola

The institution’s pioneer Director of Physical Planning, Mr. Oyetunde Oyelola, a Quantity Surveyor, is particularly happy that he has been used as a tool to transform the vision of the Management to reality in the structures dotting the landscape of the permanent site on Ile Oluji – Ipetu Ijesa road.

His words: “Really, all Gratitude to the Almighty Father; but I have to appreciate the Rector, because he is the chief mover. Were it not for him, we couldn’t have been able to attract the funds that we used in building this place.

My own duty is not as a builder. It’s just to transform the vision of the Management. And I thank the Lord that I was used as a tool to transform the vision of the Management to really mark the achievements. It is not a single man’s achievement. It is collective. Everybody, including the messengers contributed.”

He said that the journey so far has been challenging. He quoted a philosopher who advised those who want to make a mark to go into an undeveloped area, saying: “I want to quote from one philosopher who said that if you want to make a mark, don’t work where other people have worked. Go into the forest. That is where you can make a mark. And I can say that for all the Management team of the Federal Polytechnic Ile Oluji, we have done that. We came into the forest and we have made our mark. But it was not very pleasing but very challenging.”

He said: “The remarkable achievements that we have made in terms of physical projects started on October 20, 2016 when we handed over the site to the contractor for the opening up of the road. That was when the journey started.

Thereafter we have been able to receive support from the Federal Government through Tetfund. All the achievements that we have been able to record here, were it not for Tetfund, it wouldn’t have been possible.”

Oyelola reeled out the structures built so far to include the Administrative Complex, School of Engineering, Twin Auditorium and the Gate.

He added: “We have other structures that are coming up now, like the School of Agriculture which is about to get to the roofing level; the School of Management is about to get to the roofing level; we have the Engineering workshop which is already roofed. Presently, we have the Library that is ongoing now and the School of Applied Sciences.

In a few weeks time, we want to award the School of Environmental building and work would start on the 1, 500 capacity Auditorium too. And the Rector too is making moves to get some public spirited individuals to come and donate the Health Centre to the School, and so many other projects.

This is another letter that we are writing to Ecological Fund now to complete our roads. The Rector is really moving. And whatever the achievements, after the Almighty Father, the Rector should be given kudos.”

On how Management had utilised the limited funds in the execution of the projects, he said: “One thing with us is that all of us in the Management want to make a mark. That is our primary objective.

Even when we have savings from the tenders, instead of squandering the money, we use it to add value to the School, like the temporary Administrative building that we were using before. The car park there was constructed from the savings we made from the tenders.

In 2016 too, the generator that we were using there and the official residence of the Rector were from the savings. We are so mindful of history, and we want to make a mark. So, money is used judiciously.”

Recalling how the institution took off initially at the Mega Primary School and donated Administrative buildings before moving gradually to the permanent site,  Oyelola said: “It’s very traumatic because some of us came from well established institutions, only to come and sit in a ramshackle environment. But we were never deterred because of the vision that we want to make sure that we build an institution of enduring value.

For me, I am one of the disciples of Leon Von Yu of Singapore who was able to build a nation from third world to first world within 30 years. I have his book. It has always been motivating me. Each time I come here, that is just what I want to achieve to make sure that I make a mark here and do what is needful.”

He said: “Initially when I came here, I had no office for two weeks. I was standing just working on this particular project when it was at the documentary stage when I was taking it to Abuja.

One day the Rector just came to the Registrar’s office. I was in the Registrar’s open place standing. He said ‘Director, what are you doing here?’ I said ‘I don’t have office.’ He said ‘Okay. Come.’ And he showed me one office. Thereafter, the second day, he said they should bring one furniture to me; no blinds, no light, nothing.

But I was happy because I just saw it as a challenge. It’s a very rare opportunity to be a pioneer. That has always been a driving force for me to achieve. So it has not been easy, but I am always very happy that at the end of the day, something would be recorded against my name.”

On his advice to his practising and upcoming professional colleagues, Oyelola said: “Firstly, anybody who wants to be on my seat must have a high moral standard. That is the first thing. And that one, you cannot get it in a book; you cannot buy it with money. It has to be inbuilt or you develop it from a mentor. Once you have that, to achieve would be very easy.

And money should not be the primary motive, the pecuniary reason for any venture that one is going into. It’s just to add value.

Then the major vision of my own department here is to ensure that we have a low maintenance structure so that we don’t just bequeath a structure that would become a liability to anybody that is coming after us.

And we ensure quality controls like we don’t allow the contractor to take the samples without my officer being there. They would take the samples together. They would go to the laboratory together to ensure that we get result.

There was a time when one contractor brought report that was purportedly stamped and signed on Sunday, on Christmas. There was another one signed on 1^st January. We had to query them, ‘Which office opens at this time?’ That enabled me to devise a position that henceforth, once a sample is taken, my officer must be there. He must put his signature there. It is this sample that is taken to the laboratory together to ensure that the structure has stability and certification. The integrity must be there before you can say you want to sit here as Director.”

He recommended what he described as lasting solutions to the worrisome cases of recurring collapsed buildings across the country.

“The first thing is due diligence. Consultants should be engaged – structural engineer, quantity surveyor, architects, builders, electrical, mechanical. They must be engaged, competent ones. Let them do their due diligence, design, everything, then make sure that the project is given to a good contractor.

Thereafter, the supervisory team must have integrity. They must ensure that what is designed is what the contractor is building. The contractor should not be allowed to bring any shoddy material or do shoddy workmanship. They must not because it is a public building. Nobody knows who is going to be beneficiary of that building in future.

And if it is defective, it may even be the families of those people – the stakeholders that even worked that structure into being that would be victims later. Like the Yoruba use to say: Bi a ba so’ko loja, ara ile eni l’o maa nba. (A stone that we throw in the market often hits our kinsman.) So we must ensure that whatever we are doing, we can take responsibility for it, and by the time we are sleeping, we would sleep well.”

He added: As a quantity surveyor, the profession is very lucrative, and anybody who has no integrity can be tempted to do otherwise. But I would just advise my colleagues that integrity should be their watchword in whatever they do.

Oyelola was born in October 1959 to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Oyebode Oyelola in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. He attended primary school in Ile Ife. He went to the University of Ife where he had his B Sc. in Quantity Surveying in 1985. Thereafter, he proceeded to the University of Lagos to read M Sc. Construction Management in 2004.

He worked with the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti for 18 years. He joined the services on August 18, 1988, and spent about 18 years and nine months before he transferred his services to the Federal University of Technology Akure in 2007. He was there for about eight years before he transferred his service to the Federal Polytechnic Ile Oluji as the Director of Physical Planning. Presently, he is spending his fifth year in Fedpolel as a Director.

Students’ welfare is of topmost priority – Oludeyi

The welfare of the students is the topmost priority of the polytechnic’s administration, according to the Head of Student Affairs Division, Mr. Oludeyi Akinwumi.

His words: “The set of students we have here, the Lord has been assisting us in guiding them and they have been behaving very well. I must give kudos to the Management of this institution most especially the Rector who has been playing a fatherly role to the students. He gives prompt attention to whatever complaints that may come from the students’ end. I must say that he is a father to all of them.”

On the strategy in place that ensures peace in this school, he said: “It has to do with the prowess, sagacity that the Management has put in place. There is feedback. There is communication process where the students meet with the Management. It might not be one on one; but we have the communication apparatuses whereby the students make their situation or grievances known to the Management, and the promptness in attending to all these has culminated in peace and tranquility that you have rightly observed.”

On how the institution has been attending to the students’ welfare, he said: “The students’ welfare I must say is at the topmost of the affairs of the institution. Take for instance, we have just relocated to the permanent site and the Management has put in place a transportation system to ease whatever difficulty that students may want to face in shuttling between the campuses.

You know that we have some courses housed in our other campus, and there is need for students to be coming and going. The Management has been proactive in the sense that even before resumption, the transportation services have been put in place. That is one of the welfare schemes that the school has for the students.

Also, in terms of students’ related programmes, the Management has been giving them a kind of refreshment. When we have programmes, you don’t just gather students. You gather them and relate with them in such a way as if we are having family meeting where the students would open their minds to tell the Management what are to be put in place.

The kind of Management that we have here is very proactive without wasting time. Whatever that is needed to be done is given priority. Students’ welfare is given priority among other things here.”

He explained how the shuttle transportation arrangement would work, saying: “The buses would be going and coming at stipulated times. Buses would be allowed to rest for a while to curtail wearing out at no distant time. It would be for stipulated times in the morning and also in the afternoon till 6 or 7pm depending on the modalities. I want to believe that the transportation service would be available for students for the periods of their lectures. I am sure of that, with a token that would be fixed by the Management.

It was announced this morning (February 3) at our prayer meeting that for this week, it is free for the students. And that is a very good beginning. As from next week, a token would be charged to fuel the buses. It’s not for profit making. It’s just to sustain the transportation service.

We have three functional buses now. And considering the number of our students, the three should be able to meet the transportation needs of the students.”

On further plans for the welfare of the students, he said: “Like the Rector usually says, that there should be a kind of partnership with the public in getting hostels for the students so that accommodation problem would be solved or reduced to bearable minimum.

There is an ongoing process on to get a PPP arrangement so that we have hostel facilities for the students. They are living off campus now. Even as they are living off campus, there is synergy between my office and the community. We get in touch with the landlords and we have been able to resolve a lot of misunderstandings between landlords and students. We have been wading in and we have been settling disputes amicably without any external interference.”

Akinwumi, an Assistant Registrar, is a 2,000 graduate of the University of Ibadan. He later went for his Masters degree in Counseling Psychology. Currently, he is a student of University of Ibadan pursuing his PhD in Counseling Psychology.

He added: “With what I have seen here compared to other institutions, because this is not my first bus stop. I have been in an institution for quite a number of years. What I see here is quite different; and I would just enjoin other institutions to come and learn from the Federal Polytechnic, Ile Oluji how we are doing it.

You could hardly believe it that a child that was given birth to four years ago has turned out two sets of students. And in the rating of polytechnics in Nigeria, we came 13^th. Even we overtook the Methuselahs. And the rating is a national one, an objective one.

If Fedpolel which is four years old could attain such a height at infancy, you can also guess what would become of such an institution in the nearest future. I give credit to the Management, Staff and the Students of the institution for the feat we have achieved so far. And we have just started; you have not seen anything yet.”

We’re working according to master plan – Akinnifesi

The academic programmes of the institution are working and being developed according to the master plan.

The institution’s Dean of Programmes, Engineer Felix Akinnifesi, said that with the support of other government organisations, the institution would achieve its goal, declaring: “Basically we are not going to stop.”

He said that in view of the highly qualified academic staff and the equipment on ground, establishing other programmes would be easier.

Akinnifesi, an electrical engineer, had 19 years industrial or field experience and 13 years academic experience in the polytechnic sector. He had worked within and outside Nigeria within his professional career. He attended University of Benin for his first and second degrees. He had his third degree in Engineering in 1987. After that he entered the industry.

We are having seamless academic calendars – Ademuyiwa

The Acting Head of Department of Statistics, Mr. Justus Ademuyiwa, is happy that the institution is having uninterrupted academic calendars contrary to the happenings in other institutions in the country.

He said that since the school started in 2015, there had been no riot, student unrest, or strike by the staff, adding that everything has been moving smoothly

On further plans for his students, he said that his department would admit its former students who qualify for the planned HND programme:

Our course content under review – Johnson

The Head of Department of Computer Science: Mr. Johnson Olanrewaju Victor, said that efforts are on to review the course content to meet with the 21^st century competing technology.

He said that his department has good hands in terms of lecturers, course content, course delivery, and equipment or infrastructure that are available for the delivery; while many staff lecturers have moved from one cadre to the other in terms of promotion. Also many of them have bagged PhD as of last year, while many others are currently on overseas sponsorship by TetFund to study for their PhD programmes.

He said that efforts are on to review the course content to meet with the 21^st century competing technology.

We’re giving the best polytechnic education in Nigeria – Omogbehin

The HoD, Science Laboratory Technology, SLT: Mr. Omogbehin Samson, said the institution is giving the best polytechnic education in the country.

He said they are giving the students the best that no polytechnic has ever achieved in this country, in line with the volition of the Rector. He added: “It’s been so wonderful. The Lord has given us a brilliant, hard working Rector. I have not seen the type of Rector that we have here, a workaholic Rector. I have learnt a lot from him since I came to this school. He is so wonderful. I don’t know how to quantify his achievements so far.”

We aim to produce the best students in Nigeria – Olanipekun

The HoD, Fisheries Technology, Mr. Olanipekun Olamide Samuel, said that the training being offered by the three departments in Agriculture in the institution is unparalleled in the country.

He said there is now a Faculty of Agriculture which produces many things that serve the polytechnic community and the larger community. He added that people come to buy fish and foodstuff among others from the poultry like birds, eggs, maize, plantain, vegetables and okro.

He said that the Faculty also trains people in agriculture vocation skills in poultry, farming, aquaculture, crop farming and piggery.

Fedpolel pioneers Agricultural Cooperative/Management – Agbona

“This department pioneered the establishment of Agricultural Cooperative and Management. I am bold to say that Fedpolel is the only polytechnic in the South West that has this course now.”

These were the words of the HoD, Agricultural Technology, Dr. Agbona Ademola Isaac.

He said the polytechnic Management has provided all the necessary equipment to teach including a tractor, laboratories, green houses, poultry house, fish ponds and one modern station; noting that Fedpolel is the eighth that has such equipment in the federation.

He said that the Faculty building would be completed by July, adding that the faculty also trains youths and retirees in the host community, Ile Oluji in Modern Poultry Keeping, Fisheries, Agronomy and Agribusiness.

He said that the Jegun in Council and High Chief Nat Adesiyan, the Odunwo of Ile Oluji facilitate this training.

He said the institution has got  accreditation to start Agricultural Technology, and that the first set of students would come in would by February 3. He added that all the equipment and materials, the tools to work with and the personnel were ready.

He hoped that in the next accreditation, the polytechnic would be going for Animal Production, Food Science and Technology, even Agricultural Engineering.

Centre for Entrepreneurship takes off soon – Agbabiaka

Plans are on to have a special centre for entrepreneurship in the institution ‘so that we can expand,’ according the Chairman of the institution’s Agricultural Training, Dr Adegoke Agbabiaka.

Also, he spoke of the plan to build on the foundation already laid on January 31 with the graduation of the first batch of vocational skills trainees.

His words: “When I came here on sabbatical, knowing this is an agrarian community, I thought of how we could have a bridge between the community and the institution. That is how this programme was conceived.

Usually everything in the world today on Agriculture is vocation. It is not theory again. What we did was that those who have farms, we teach them how they can increase yield; those who have not, we taught them how they can start; and that is exactly what we have done here now.

What we did was that we now use the farm we have and their own farms to teach them. We go to their farms, we treat their animals. After about a week we come back. All of us go there. We go to their farms and solve whatever problems.

What we want to do now is to have a special centre for entrepreneurship in this institution so that we can expand. I am privileged to be a member of the national team. I am in the consultancy team of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. I am the Head of Aquaculture and Fisheries now in Nigeria. We have other things too in crop called National Agricultural Agenda of the Federal Government 2020 – 2023.

What we are trying to do is to see them producing. When they produce, who are the people that need their services? They don’t know. That is why the middle men are cheating them. What we are trying to do now is to teach them Agribusiness.

How do you know the hot takers of your products? And that is the next thing I want to discuss so that they now have a group, they can be on net just like a vehicle. If you have a vehicle, you could put it up for sale online. People from Lagos or Abuja can be pricing your car in Ile Oluji on the net. We want to do the same thing for them. These people have produced so and so. They key in to it. They are asked if they could supply certain number, they say yes. They come around and see that you have it and they go. That is how they can make more money. They can’t do that without certification.

I am privileged to be FAO consultant and I am the Vice President of Aquaculture in ECOWAS today. The experience I have outside when I go out to Burundi and other places, we try to see how we do it there. That’s what I am trying to bring to this place and see how we can do it. The next thing we want to do now is teach them on Agribusiness. They know how to produce now. How do you sell?”

On the next batch of trainees, Agbabiaka said: “It depends on the community. This place is large. This is the first set. Now that they are happy it has been a success, when they advertise, we don’t know them. It is those who are interested who would come. But from what they have seen from these people, their performance would attract others. What we want to see now is how to organise them, assist them get funds, expand and be successful.

I am the President of Fisheries Society of Nigeria and Regional President for ECOWAS and Mauritania in Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Chairman of Agricultural Training in Fedpolel.”

We give our students practical knowledge that stands them out – Iwayemi

Students of Fedpolel are given practical knowledge that stands them out among their peers in the labour market, according to the HoD, Computer Engineering, Engineer Ayodeji Iwayemi.

He said: “It has been a smooth and nice journey, a journey of upward and forward movement. It has been a wonderful journey. We’ve been able to build the department from scratch leading to the accreditation of the department. Basically we are one of the foremost in the country now.”

On plan for the students, he said: “My plan for the students is to continue in the previous plans and improve on those previous plans that we have achieved and actualised for the students. This includes a smooth teaching.

Outside the school teaching, we ensure we give them hands on practical training. We equally ensure that we give them cutting edge advantages that stand them ahead of their mates everywhere.

So we plan to teach our students with modern teaching methodologies, with necessary equipment, physical equipment simulated, all equipment needed. Some that cannot be found in any university or polytechnic in this country would be simulated and used via some developed models to teach them. It’s going to be a forward and upward movement from where we have started.”

He said: “Now let’s come back to the department. The Department of Computer Engineering is eating with elders. We have our students being tutored in specialised courses. We equip our students. Outside the normal curriculum, we give them workshop and from this workshop, they learn basic skills, and they use all of these to simulate and design things that are needed out there.

Not only that, we train them in specialised courses that include full repairs. Our students repair phones all over the campus. Some of them that don’t have money from home get money from all of these. If you come to our workshop, you would always see our students repairing one thing or the other for their colleagues, the students and staff. They repair computers too. We teach them specialised workshops where they have hands on skills on repair of computers, phones and other gadgets.

They are equally equipped in programming like the use of Java, visual basic, python. They do all of these and use them to build packages that are functional and useful in establishments because Computer Engineering is a course that entails the juicy part of the fundamental part of Electrical Engineering and add it to the juicy and robust part of Computer Science. So it marries those two departments and comes up with designs and developments to meet needs.

Outside those programming skills that students are taught, we equally train our students on Business Administration and Management, how to manage all these businesses they establish, how to interact, how to maintain good interpersonal relationships, with their customers.

Not only that, we enrich our syllabus with modern teaching aids, curriculum that have been able to position our students at a place of competitive advantage over their mates everywhere in the world. And that is actually playing out. We have turned out two sets of students now as part of eating with elders. It’s a lot of accolades. It shows we are eating with the elders.

Some of the students of the department are found all over. The skills I mentioned have been able to position our students in different sensitive places of the world.

One of our students went through all the stages of examination, test and screening in one of the foremost multinational companies, Chevron, and emerged as one of the best. He was given the opportunity to do his IT in the IT department of Chevron. While he was there he was the only student from any polytechnic locally or internationally in the IT department of Chevron that came from any polytechnic in this country.  He excelled so much there. He mentioned cases where the supervisor would ask ‘How did you get to know all of these; how did you get to be outstanding in all of these?’ And he would say ‘I got acquainted with some of these things in school.’

He cited a case where he had to learn Linux. No other person there among IT students had any idea about Linux and they asked him: ‘How did you get to know about Linux, even none of the international students said they learned Linux?’ He said while in school, they were taught. I actually taught them the operating system and we did a lot on Linux operating system. That stood him ahead; that made him stand ahead of his mates.

He was there for three months. He participated in international examinations screening from one of the foremost universities in India, and he was successful and was given a full scholarship. As I am talking to you now, he is in India on full scholarship, Guru nana University, India studying Computer Engineering. From reports, he is an outstanding student there.

Our students are equipped. We see our students as persons to be equipped to stand ahead of their contemporaries all over the world. We have our students in MTN and many other places. After passing through the stages of the exercises, they emerge as ones of the best. Some are standing alone doing their businesses repairing computers, phones, sales of computers, phones and the likes.

We have established this system and the system is still ongoing. Other students that would join the departments would enjoy the same benefits. We have lecturers with high qualifications, skilled lecturers teaching our students. Seminars are organised for the students and lecturers consistently. Our department is actually a world class department with modern teaching facilities.”

He added: “Fedpolel is a place to be. The Department of Computer Engineering is a place to be. Our students are intellectually robust. They are highly marketable. They are equipped with world class skills. So it is a place to be.

The Department ofComputer Engineering is a department that takes the juicy part of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and marries it with the robust part of Computer Science. So Computer Engineering is like adding the benefits of Electrical/Electronic Engineering and the benefits of Computer Science; and using these two benefits to design systems to meet needs in the society.

That is what Computer Engineering is all about; and this is what we are actually building the students to be. If you get to the lab there you would see projects that our students are building particularly on embedded systems, writing programmes and embedding, writing the programmes in such a way that they are inbuilt or built on devices. Those devices are now allowed by that programme, or empowered to behave in a particular way as desired by the designer, and a lot of artificial intelligence systems being built.

So it’s a place to be. Computer Engineering, we do not learn only school learning, we learn culture, morality. Our students are equally cultured and well behaved. There is this interpersonal relationship we have with our students that they are not far away from us. We don’t keep them far away. We mentor them. One just called me few minutes ago from India.

And we are concerned about what comes out of them at the end of the day. We don’t just teach and end it in class. We are concerned about their future. That’s why I can tell you where each of our students is. There is none of our students that is downtrodden or fallen by the wayside. All of them are high fliers. They are in sensitive places of the world.”

Iwayemi, a native of Ilutitun in Okitipupa Local government Area of Ondo State, was born to late Mr. L.A. Iwayemi and Mrs. Ajoke Iwayemi.

An engineer registered with COREN, he started his basic education at Success Nursery and Primary School, Okitipupa, after which he proceeded to Manuwa Memorial Grammar School, Iju Odo in Okitipupa Local Government. Hee proceeded to the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti, after which he went to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife where he studied Computer Engineering at the Bachelor’s degree level.

He proceeded to the University of Ibadan where he obtained a Masters degree in Computer Science. He also went to the University of Benin where he obtained a Masters of Engineering degree in Computer Engineering. Presently he is on a PhD programme in Computer Engineering at the University of Benin.

We teach our students to contribute to national economy – Omolaye

Students of Fedpolel are taught to make meaningful contributions to the economy of Nigeria, as disclosed by the Acting HoD, General Studies, Mr. Happy Ojo Omolaye.

He said the plan for his students is to see them contributing to the nation positively and to also see them as a people so that by the time they graduate, they would be gainfully employed, and they would be useful to themselves.

Omolaye was born on April 4, 1974. He graduated from the University of Ife for his first degree. Thereafter he had his Masters from the University of Ibadan. Currently, he is pursuing his PhD. He assumed office over four years ago as the pioneer Acting HoD of the Department of General Studies. He is married with children.

ICAN accredits our Accountancy Department – Akindutire

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, a foremost professional body in the country, has accredited the Accountancy Department of Fedpolel.

The institution’s HoD, Accountancy, Mr. Akindutire Solomon Olumayokun, said: “The department has been able to record another feather by trying to accredit the department with ICAN. The association has been magnanimous enough. We have been able to meet the standard. They have accredited us. That is another feather in the sense that all our students now would be given some exemptions when they want to write ICAN examinations. Without problem, with the help of the Management, the department is moving on.

I am also happy to inform you that this department has given birth to Department of Business Administration.”

On further plans for the students, he said: “Very soon, we intend to encourage them to register with ICAN so that as soon as they have their ND they can still have another certificate. The policy of the school is that students from this school must have additional certificate. That is exactly what we are after here.

Akindutire, who holds FCIB and FCCA, is  a chartered banker, a fellow of that institute and an accountant. He is a fellow of Company and Commercial Accountants with Masters degree in Business Administration and Masters in Accounting. He is a fellow of Commerce CI.

He worked in the bank for over 25 years before he disengaged without any blemish.

Acting HoD, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology, Engineer Tosin Ebinowen

The Acting HoD, Electrical and Electronic Enginnering Technology, Engineer Tosin Ebinowen said that everything is well with his department adding that his students have been performing well. He added that some of them have gone for their HND programme while some others have been admitted to the university on direct entry, noting that they are all encouraged to be good students and ambassadors of the institution.

His words: “We are set in our own capacity to put in our best into that institution and helping the students. The environment is cordial. Our leaders are trying their best to see to the progress of everybody including the staff.”

Ebinowen, who has been a lecturer and Acting HoD Fedpolel for about three years now, hails from Okitipupa Local Government in Ondo State. He initially worked with the Federal University of Technology Akure. 

We have unique CISCO training on course, CCNA starts soon – Adekunle

The institution would soon start the next phase of the CISCO training, which is CCNA.

This was disclosed by the Head of ICT, Engineer Adekunle Kolawole Ojo, who added that the centre runs a unique CISCO networking programme which is not obtainable in any of the other sister institutions.

In his words: “In this centre, we run CISCO networking programme which is not obtainable in any of our sister institutions. We have graduated close to 50 students and they bagged their certificate from USA through CISCO systems.

Also any moment from now we would be running the 2020 JAMB in this institution. And we look forward to start the next phase of the CISCO training, the CCNA in this same place.”

He said: “When we first started, we didn’t have this on ground. But with the push and leadership of the Rector Prof Adedayo Fasakin, and grace we were able to achieve all these.

We look forward in achieving more. We look forward to run this centre during JAMB and talk of any other examinations be it Customs, INEC or whatsoever examination that is on ground. We want to use this place as a Computer Based Test place for all these institutions.”

The centre, which commenced operation on October 15 2015, runs on a dual carriage. With capacity for over 530 systems, it has about 382 systems, installed in two large rooms where students, irrespective of population, could be trained concurrently.

Besides, there is a conference board that facilitates lively interaction with sister institutions abroad.

Speaking further on the operations, the ICT Head said: “In this centre we have so many things running concurrently. At the moment, we manage the students admissions and registrations.

We equally have a portal system whereby students pay online for all their transactions. It is seamless and our students are in now for new session. Hardly would you see them here. They’ve done most of their transactions online. All they come to school to do is come with their course forms, go to their respective course lecturers, and staff advisers for them to sign.”

Adekunle, from Abeokuta in Ogun state, is an Oracle certified administrator and a certified CISCO networking instructor. He graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. He has masters in Computer Science, and also a first degree in Computer Science with Economics. He has worked in several institutions, Fedpolel being the second tertiary institution he has worked, apart from a private university. He has also garnered experience in Banking, atnd at the IT section of PZ, in Ilupeju, Lagos.

We’ll participate at 2021 NIPOGA – Ogundiran

Fedpolel would participate in the 21^st edition of the All Nigeria Polytechnics Games, NIPOGA, holding next year at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo.

Already, the institution has registered for the games, according to the institution’s Head of Sports, Mr. Abiodun Wale Ogundiran. He added that it observed the just concluded games in Ilorin in line with the constitution of NIPOGA.

The sporting facilities on ground include a football pitch at the take off site, used to play the annual Rector’s Cup. Besides, there are facilities for indoor games activities, including table tennis, badminton, draught, chores and ludo among others.

Ogundiran was born and brought up in Oyo State. He attended Osun State College of Education for his NCE; and Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo for his B Sc. in Physical and Health Education.

He has attended series of competitions and played football, cricket, and handball, hauling several medals in the process. He is a member of Nigerian Football Referees Association in National League precisely. He officiates at the National League in Nigeria. He is also a member of Nigerian Athletics Technical Official, NATO; and Nigerian Technical Committee on NIPOGA.

We ensure best placements for SIWES, industrial training – Adetunji

The SIWES and industrial training programmes of the school ensure the production of well rounded students on graduation, according to the insttution’s Head of the SIWES Unit, Mr Ademola Adetunji.

He noted that the essence of polytechnic education is to ensure that students have handwork on graduation, so that the question should be what to do rather than where to work.

He said: “What SIWES is doing is to bridge the gap between the industry and the institution by ensuring that students are exposed to relevant experiences relating to their respective courses.

What we do is to ensure that our students after their first year in school go out to spend four months in relevant industry to their course so that they have the mindset of what they are up to after ND. We ensure they have best placements possible. We canvass for placements and look for opportunities by looking at the industry locally especially in Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states.

We give students opportunities to look for where they think they can have their industrial training. They mainly come back that people are not ready to take them. We get placements for them. We also mobilise students for the one year industrial training after their ND programme.”

All these are relevant to the HND programme, whose applicants are supposed to go for 16 months industrial training, including four months for SIWES, and 12 months for IT. They are also basic requirements for NBTE for admission.

Adetunji, a lecturer 1 in the Department of Statistics, had worked with the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti before joining the services of Fedpolel in 2015. He attended that polytechnic where he had the best result in the faculty.

He had distinction in Statistics in his PGD programme at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA. He had his masters from University of Ilorin. He also has a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science at the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN.

Security of staff, students, visitors our topmost priority – Abasie

Security of staff, students and visitors as well as their properties is the priority of the Prof Fasakin administration, according to the Chief Security Officer, CSO, Mr. Emmanuel Abasie, a retired Superintendent of Police, SP.

His words: “It has been the centre point of the institution. Security of staff, students and visitors is the priority of the Prof Fasakin administration. He doesn’t joke with anything concerning security.

It centres on the protection of lives and property, the institution’s property, lives of the students and staff has always been the priority. The institution has never thwarted any logistics required to move the security department forward.

In area of security staff training and retraining, the administration has ensured these, even outside training. The Security department has always nipped in the bud any threat from within and outside.”

Abasie had held several security posts before he retired from the Nigeria Police Force, NPF. He served, among others, as a unit commander in 17PMF; DPO in various divisions in Ondo State including Ile Oluji, Igbara Oke, Okitipupa and Ido Ani.

A former operative in the central SARS Abuja, which cracked several hardened criminals, Abasie said: “The experience is helping me much in the current task.”

Also, students of the institution spoke of their experiences.

It is awesome being students here – Amusat Michael, Accountancy Department, ND 2

He said: “Being students of the Federal Polytechnic Ile Oluji is awesome because we are enjoying the present administration of our dear Prof Adedayo Fasakin, the Rector of the polytechnic. The man is a great man because of the present development at our permanent site. He is behind it.”

This is a very great school – Farinde Muyideen Adewale, Electrical/Electronics Department, ND 2

He said: “This is a very great school. I did not expect all that I have been seeing in this school because some schools that were established the same time with this school have broken down. But this school is still developing.

For our Rector to build this place is not a day’s job. He has done great. He does his work; no problem. The school calendar is going smoothly. There is no problem with the lecturers; no corruption. There is nothing like cultism. Anything that wants to cause problem, he settles it amicably. I am so grateful for being a student of this Federal Polytechnic Ile oluji.”

Fedpolel now Nigeria’s fastest growing polytechnic – Enigbokan

In four years of hard work, Fedpolel has become an institution of global reckoning, according to the Principal Assistant Registrar, Information, Protocol and Passages, Mr. Sanmi Enigbokan.

Besides, he said that it is Nigeria’s fastest growing polytechnic. He said many staff members are undergoing their PhD programmes outside the country, and are being promoted normally; while Tetfund is funding academic development of others. He added that other Management members are attending conferences within and outside the country.

On exchange or linkage programmes, Enigbokan said that the institution is collaborating with ICT University in Louisiana, USA among other reputable institutions in South Africa, and Israel to impact positively on the programmes being run in the institution to give the students and teachers necessary international exposure. He added that plans are on also to send the ICT staff to the American university to acquire more knowledge which they would impact on the students and other staff generally on arrival.

He described the Rector’s leadership style as democratic in that he involves all facets of the polytechnic community in decision making, citing for example that the Principal Officers meet to deliberate on decisions for the week.

Besides, he said that the institution’s Management Team, comprising some heads of units and directors, as established by the new Polytechnic Act, meets monthly to take decisions on issues concerning the welfare of staff and students among others.

Also, there is the monthly prayer meeting every first working day of every month, where all members of staff and students come together under one umbrella as one family, pray and supplicate for direction on how to go about the month.

He said that the Rector’s style of bringing people together to take decisions collectively for the development of the polytechnic has culminated in the achievements recorded so far

With the emphasis being placed on academic content by the Rector and his Management team, Enigbokan was certain that in the next five years, the polytechnic would become the hub of vocational training, the cynosure of eyes for all polytechnics in Nigeria and a place for admission seekers. He foresees the institution becoming another technological hub within the country in terms of deployment of resources towards fabrication of some engines and things that could be of local help to the host society and the nation at large.

He said that the institution is restrategising in line with the new Polytechnic Act which lays emphasis on building high level manpower rather than middle level manpower alone for national development.

Fedpolel, he said, wants to contribute its own quota in terms of sustaining the national economy through entrepreneurship skill acquisition training for all its products.

He said the Rector has been enjoying full support of all the staff members, adding that the management, lecturers, students and all staff members are happy with him.

Enigbokan, who hails from Ayetoro community, in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, attended Anglican Primary School Lagos after which he went to Gasikiya College and came out in flying colours in 1986. He moved to Federal School of Arts and Science, Victoria Island for his A Level in 1988. From there, he proceeded to the then Ondo State University in1990 where he had his first degree in Psychology with Second Class Upper Division.

He did his youth service at Idemili Local Government in Anambra State where he was the Corper Liaison Officer between 1995 and 96. He was the Best Corp Member of the Year In that local government and a nominee to the state award. He was given a job there, but chose come back home.

He proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University for his Masters degree in Public Administration; after which he started work as a teacher in TESCOM. From there, he moved to Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo in 2005 as an Administrative Officer 2. He rose through the ranks to become a Senior Assistant Registrar in the Public Relations unit of the polytechnic before he was employed on September 5, 2017 at Fedpolel as Principal Assistant Registrar, Information, Protocol and Passages.