– Urges Soun, Others to Improve Access Roads to Permanent Site
By Iyiola Olalere
Ayede (FLOWERBUDNEWS): The Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Ogbomoso, Oyo State has commended the institution’s drive towards entrepreneurship and innovation designed to boost economic empowerment for students, staff and indigenes of the host communities.
Led by its Chairman, Honourable Yakubu Dati, the Governing Council gave the commendation on Thursday while inspecting the institution’s Centre for skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (CSAED) before holding its plenary session.
FLOWERBUDNEWS reports that the CSAED is located at Onipaanu community in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State. The CSAED was established to ensure that all students of FEDPA students graduated equipped with a skill that can enable them become entrepreneurs.
Hon. Dati, while speaking to newsmen at Onipaanu, particularly commended the Institution’s Rector, Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hammed and his Management team for the different successes recorded in the few years of the establishment the Polytechnic.
The council also commended the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Affolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, and other traditional rulers in the land as well as government agencies for their commitment towards the institution’s desire to relocate to its permanent site located in Ayede community in Ogo-Oluwa Local Goverment Area of the state.
One of the critical factors hindering the relocation to the permanent site are road networks from Idi Araba, Oolo and/Odo Oba axis.
Dati, who expressed gratitude to traditional institutions, government agencies, staff, students and host communities, also appealed to the Federal Government, Oyo State government and other critical agencies to assist the institution in the area of good road networks to the permanent site.
He said, “We are appealing to the Federal Government and we, as council members, will also use our networks and contacts to reach out to relevant stakeholders to assist with construction of roads to the permanent site. We have been there and we are quite impressed with the facilities provided there.
“At the permanent site, there are about thirteen building projects already completed, including Administrative Block, Urban and Regional Planning Building, medical centre, library, gate house, among others.
“However, lack of access roads currently denies the optimal use of the facilities. So, we will join hands with the management to draw the attention of bodies that will assist us to it, both federal and state levels.”
He also thanked Oba Olaoye, saying, “We are also happy that the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, visited the place and he has also promised to push the case so that we open up the place. Moving our administrative and academic activities to the Ayede communities will really being development to the axis.”
Dati also thanked the Oyo State government led by Engr. Seyi Makinde and other agencies of the Federal Government.
“I appreciate the focus, dexterity and hard work of the management led by the Rector, Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed (FNSE) for the wonderful work being done here.”
Speaking at Onipaanu, the Rector, Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed, who appealed to the stakeholders for supports, also said the community should not entertain any fear.
Abdul-Hameed said, “I want to appeal to the stakeholders. The Ayede community should not entertain any fear whatsoever. We are determined. This crop of management team led by my humble self, we are determined to move to our permanent site. And working assiduously to ensure that all barriers are surmounted.
“I must appreciate members of my management team: the Deputy Rector, Mr. Azeez Olasunkanmi Ojo; Registrar, Mr. Akin Odesola; Bursar, Mrs. Rashidat Titilola Oladepo; Polytechnic Librarian, Dr. Samuel Oke Ogunniyi and the Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments and Units, staff and students.
“Our students have shown maximum cooperation because we are giving them proper guidance. In the next few years, those of us who are pioneer staff will be able to raise our shoulders high anywhere we are and say ‘we are part of the system that produced this crop of graduates who are not job seeker but rather employers of labour.
“I want to thank Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) for giving us supports. I thank the Honourable Minsider of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa; Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.
”Our appreciation also goes to the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education, Prof. Idris Bugaje; Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Funds, Arc. Sonny Echono, among other limitless critical agencies and stakeholders.
The Ministry of Education’s representative, Mrs. Chinyere Nwokorie, commended the Rector, management and the CSAED and charged the institution to do more on innovation.
“I must say that among its peers, Federal Polytechnic Ayede is the best,” she added.
The council’s community representative, Dr. Abraham Okunade, said, “I am glad that things are moving on here at the centre. And I pray that the school will continue to move forward. It is also our achievable desire that the school will continue to be the best, even, among the Polytechnics in Nigeria.”
Alhaji Aminu Sokoto and Alhaji Goba Minter, also members of the council, expressed delight that the institution, despite being an institution less than five years, is making progress and competing with older institutions in the country.
They saluted the strides of the management, not only on entrepreneurship development but also on the development of the institution.
The Director of the CSAED, Mr. Oluwaseun Owojori, highlighted the operations of the centre saying, “Presently, we have three skills approved by the NBTE and they are electrical installation, plumbing and interior decoration. We are also proposing two more: garment making and social media communication.
“When students come here, we give them first hand training and they will be given the opportunity to practicalise and demonstrate. Of course, their practical will be reviewed.
”Through that method, they are certified to be skilled. At FEDPA, we are currently running 13 courses and we don’t only give them education in their courses of studies, but they will also be skilled before graduation. So, this will be a solution to Nigeria’s unemployment.
At the centre, there was presentation of some of the centre’s products (leather shoes, germicides, liquid soap, among others) to the chairman and members of the council. (FLOWERBUDNEWS)
