By John Dike, Osogbo
Ex-Osun State Deputy Governo, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has praised President Bola Tinubu for demonstrating uncommon foresight and an unshakable belief in the strategic importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to Nigeria’s national development.
Delivering a lecture at the second Combined Convocation and 10th Anniversary of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, over the weekend, Omisore stated that the Tinubu administration’s renewed investment in education, institutional reforms, and industrial skills development has ushered in a new dawn for the nation’s polytechnic system.
Omisore, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke on the topic: “Reimagining Polytechnic Education for the 21st-Century Economy.” He said the President’s philosophy that “no nation can rise above the quality of its trained workforce” continues to shape national policy direction and institutional realignment.
He noted that under Tinubu’s leadership, the technical and polytechnic subsector has witnessed revitalized funding, improved governance structures, and stronger linkages between educational institutions and industry.
According to him, “We are especially grateful for his immense contribution to the growth, infrastructural transformation, and academic stability of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji.”
The Osun APC chieftain added that through deliberate government support and enabling policies, the institution has become a beacon of technical excellence and innovation in the South-West and beyond.
“Today, as we celebrate ten remarkable years of academic excellence and community impact, we affirm that President Tinubu’s administration has rekindled confidence in the value of technical education—positioning it not as a fallback option, but as a vital driver of innovation, job creation, and industrial sustainability,” he said.
He further praised the President’s commitment to human-capital development, technological advancement, and skill acquisition, adding that history would remember Tinubu as the leader who reawakened Nigeria’s technical education sector “with courage, foresight, and purposeful governance.”
Omisore emphasized that reimagining polytechnic education requires bringing industry into the classroom and the classroom into industry. “Every student’s project must have industrial or community relevance,” he said, urging Nigeria to adopt successful global models such as Germany’s dual vocational training system.
He also charged polytechnics and monotechnics to embrace a paradigm shift by training students strictly within their core areas of competence.
Omisore commended the Rector, Dr. Ademola Iyanda Ebeloku, for his exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing the institution. He also praised the Governing Council, Academic Board, and the entire Polytechnic community for their contributions to the institution’s remarkable progress within just a decade.
To the graduating students, he said: “Congratulations. Today is not merely a celebration of certificates but a confirmation of competence and character. This Polytechnic has equipped you not just with skills, but with the vision to innovate and lead Nigeria toward development.”
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