By Ayodele Abere.
The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, which started with seven academic departments with enrollment of three hundred and fifty Full Time National Diploma Students and ninety five academic staff in 1978, now has about fifteen thousand students in its Full Time and Part Time Programmes in both National Diploma and Higher National Diploma.
The Rector, Dr Dayo Oladebeye made this known at a pre-convocation press conference held at the Institution in Ado-Ekiti, the State Capital, where journalists in the State were formally intimated on the activities put in place for the 18th combined convocation ceremony of the Polytechnic.
Oladebeye, further explained that the Polytechnic is currently having a total Staff strength of about 2,000, comprising Academic, Non -Teaching, Technical/Technologists and Junior Cadre Staff with 36 academic departments.
“Indeed, the Polytechnic is no longer as it used to be. It is moving in leaps and bounds as the current administration under my humble leadership and other administrations before me had done their best in harnessing all possible avenues amidst formidable challenges to bring the needed and expected developments to Institution”.
The Rector said that, 13, 667 Higher National Diploma (HND) and National Diploma (ND) of three graduating sets from 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 Academic sessions respectively would be formally turned out during the 18th combined convocation ceremony.
According to Engr. Oladebeye, “the activities of this week will be very significant in the annals of this Polytechnic and I am already feeling elated because this is the second convocation I will preside over since I took over the mantle of leadership of this great Institution as the 6th Substantive Rector on 23rd February, 2018 and it is apparently going to be the last as far as my current status is concerned”.
Giving his score cards, the Rector highlighted several achiements that the Polytechnic has recorded since he came on board in 2018 which include; Infrastructure, Staff Training, Retraining and Development, Academic, Administrative, Staff/Students Welfare and Sporting Activities.
Oladebeye, noted that in spite of the numerous achievements his administration has recorded, that there were also some challenges from different areas which God has helped them to surmount as they are also still trusting God to help them nip in the bud several other challenges that are hindering the full realisation of their goals, visions and missions in the Institution which according to the Rector, among others include; ageing physical infrastructure, lack of adequate and very poor condition of vehicles in the Polytechnic’s fleet and pool as well as paucity of funds.
Following this, Dr. Oladebeye therefore solicits support of potential benefactors and well meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the Polytechnic, so that the mission and vision for which the Institution was established can be fully achieved.
As part of the tradition for the convocation, the Rector revealed that five eminent Nigerians have been nominated and accepted to be decorated with the Fellowship Award of the Polytechnic. The five eminent persons nominated are; His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Enitan, Ooni of Ile-Ife. His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, former Governor of Lagos State and the current Honourable Minister for Works and Housing. Yeye Aare Modupe Babalola, Chief Executive Officer of ABUAD Venture and wife of the legal ICON and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola. Surv. B.A. Fakologbon FNIS, an alumnus and Prince Rotimi Benjamin Ibidapo, OON, also an alumnus.
Engr. Oladebeye said their recognition is to serve as a source of of encouragement to the graduands and students for them to know that they too can aspire to whatever heights they aim at.
Dr. Dayo Oladebeye, the first alumnus Rector of the Polytechnic, who has about four months left to bow out of office as the Rector of the Polytechnic, however, appreciated God for the grace and privilege given to him to paddle the canoe of the Institution since 2018. He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and the Hon Minister of Education for the rare and duty-bound opportunity given him to serve as the 6th substantive and first alumnus Rector of the Institution.
