By Banji Ayoola
“I want to commend and congratulate the Governing Council and Management of the Polytechnic for sharing and executing the vision of Government. With what I have seen today, I confirm that the pioneer leadership of this promising institution has laid a very solid academic, physical and infrastructural foundation for this Polytechnic.
I say this because even in spite of the challenges of funds, we have commissioned a total of ten physical projects worth billions of naira for use,, and we are graduating two sets of students at the National Diploma level just within the Polytechnic’s fist four years of take-off.”
These were the exact words of President Muhammadu Buhari today at the maiden convocation of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile Oluji, Ondo State, Fedpolel.
The highly impressed President, who was represented at the occasion by the Minister of State for Education, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said: “The establishment of this Polytechnic has been of tremendous social and economic impact to this immediate environment and the host state in general.
Under the close supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education, the Polytechnic has carefully and purposely developed a cluster of academic programmes based on the areas of critical national manpower needs.
He said that the fresh ideas of the graduating students would be needed in the public and private sectors adding: “I am certain that the current shortage in manpower supply in the field of technical and vocational craft has globalised the essential challenges of entrepreneurial development.
As you become part of the solution, I admonish you all to be focused. This should be a step in the direction of your vision. Do not join any bad gang after your graduation and never forget your Alma Mata.
… You have been empowered to be able to get a job or start an enterprise with a view to becoming economically independent.”
However, the President expressed deep concern over the lack of interest in technical-based institutions in the country by her youths.
He regretted that the apathy towards technical education by the youths is detrimental to the manpower needs of emerging industries in the country, saying: “It is imperative to note that though vocational education is important for preparing necessary manpower for a developing economy, such as ours, the youth of school ages in our country are apathetic towards it.
” Enrolment into technical-based educational institutions at tertiary level is still at an appalling percentage.
“Records of enrolments into universities in recent years show a progressive increase while those of into technical-based institutions have only been marginal.
“The dearth of skilled manpower at the middle level should provide a huge opportunity for our youths who attend technical-based institutions or are willing to develop themselves in any of them.
“Nation all over the world have come to realise the importance of technical vocational education training in strengthening economies and building formidable industries.”
Noting that some countries like China, Singapore, Malaysia and India have been strengthening their economies through the development of technical-based institutions, he vowed: “On our part, we will continuously provide the needed support and enablement for the development and enhancement of technical and vocational education in Nigeria.”
In his speech, the institution’s Rector, Prof Emmanuel Adedayo Fasakin, said that inadequate funds was a major challenge facing the institution.
He lamented that “we still face the challenge of low and irregular release in terms of capital and overhead allowances”, even as he called for a special case for increased capital and overhead allocation to the polytechnic.
Fasakin said that the institution welcomes donations and all forms of support, adding: “We welcome collaborative relationship through Build – Operate – and Transfer BOT arrangement.”
Also in his speech, Ondo State Governor Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, praised the authorities of the institution over its development of within four years of its establishment, urging that it should help produce students that will meet the manpower needs of the country.
At the convocation, 291 students constituting the first two sets of the institution’s students, were conferred with their national diplomas. They included 141 for the 2017/2018 pioneering set and 150 for the 2018/2019 set.
The breakdown shows that 39 passed out with distinction, while 91 had upper credit; there were 119 with lower credit, and 42 with pass.
