The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Prof. Emmanuel Adedayo Fasakin, has been honoured with the 2018 Africa’s Distinguished Personality Award as the “Vanguard of Africa Development” by the Trans-Africa Students’ Initiative.
A statement by the institution’s Head, Information, Protocol and Passages, Mr Sanmi Enigbokan, said that the occasion held in the Council Chambers of the Institution.
It said this award was bestowed on the Rector in recognition of his immense contribution to nation building and human capital development in the education sector of Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
The Trans-Africa Students’ Initiative is a Pan-African student body established in 2012 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, with membership spread across twelve African countries including Nigeria, Gambia, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Liberia, Cameroon, Benin, Rwanda, Togo, Botswana and Ivory Coast.
It was set up to contribute its quota to Africa’s development through enduring programmes and projects.
At the event which held on October 22, the Association was represented by Hon. Kossi Austine, Head of Operations; Comrade Musa Abdulrauf; Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim; Comrade Ismail Oyebanjo; Comrade Ige Ayodeji and Comrade Odusola Anne.
A citation read by the General Secretary of the student body, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, described Prof. Fasakin as a shining academic, mentor, pace-setter and an inspiration to Africa Youth whose exemplary leadership qualities has become a source of reference to students under his tutelage.
In his acceptance speech, the rector felt elated at the award bestowed on him and dedicated it to the teeming members of the Polytechnic Community who he described as the masquerade behind the success story.
He further encouraged the student representatives to embrace leadership skills in order to sustain the noble ideals of the association, saying “you cannot give what you don’t have”.
On the state of education in Africa, he reiterated the need for the incorporation of African values in the curriculum as a way of promoting Pan-Africanism. “There is need for a mixture of national and international contents in our educational system to change our mind set and promote Africanism”, he opined.
On sustainability of the goals of the Association, he charged the student representatives to work together, synergise and have a rebirth of African values.
He said “you must also change the system for better and do things that would bring you up and the Africa Continent”. He hinted that Africa will change when we have the right people at the helm of affairs, while admonishing them to move “faster to get to their destination”.
The event was graced by the Registrar, Mr F. O. Adetula (JP); Bursar, Mr. A. T. Orina (JP); the Polytechnic Librarian, Mr. A. A. Olofinsawe; and Dean of Programmes, Engr. A. F. Akinnifesi, among others.
