By Teniola Blessing.
Poised to standardise and offer qualitative education at the highest cadre of education, the Ekiti State government, has restated its commitment to proper funding of the tertiary institutions to be able to deliver on their mandates to the citizens.
The government, said it can’t afford to toy with the funding of tertiary education being training grounds for eggheads and drivers of the economy, especially to protect and preserve the acronym attached to Ekiti as the “Fountain of Knowledge”.
The Deputy Governor, Chief Mrs Monisade Afuye, gave the assurance, while playing host to the Provost of the College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ijero Ekiti, Dr. Olajumoke Cecelia Adebayo and management team at her office in Ado Ekiti.
Based on the Management’s demand that government should upgrade the College to a Polytechnic status to be able to access funds at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund), Mrs Afuye, insisted that the arrangement must “fully comply with due process”.
Mrs Afuye, according to a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, advised the College to write a new brief as stipulated by law and convince the state government that such upgrading will revitalise the institution to offer qualitative education.
Mrs Afuye stated that the government of Governor Oyebanji holds the College in high esteem, having produced middle class health officials and graduates that are performing exceedingly well in the society.
She said the state government is not averse to the upgrading of the institution, but insisted that such procedure would have to be properly channeled through legal path and due process to prevent infraction that may attract penalties from regulatory bodies.
Mrs Afuye said; “Ekiti State Government has high regards for the College of Healty Sciences and Technology owing to the fact that their graduates are performing exceptionally in their places of work. We gave so many proofs to substantiate this fact.
“But regarding upgrading of the College to a higher pedestal, the government’s understand the ways of putting it to the leadership of the House of Assembly to pass the law to effect this, but there must be verifiable evidence to convince the government that such will be in the best interest of the College .
“I will advise that you write a new brief on why the College should be upgraded to a polytechnic. Let us know the benefits in the areas of infrastructure and funding, since its elevation won’t cost the state any financial burden.
“Let me assure you that Governor Oyebanji is going to fulfil all his promises, but give us little time to think on all your demands and take the normal steps”.
Justifying that the College deserves upgrading in her submission, the College Provost, Dr Adebayo, said such arrangement will resolve perrenial infrastructural and financial deficit pummeling the institution.
The Provost commended governor Oyebanji for his resolve to properly fund education in Ekiti, saying this will help to restore the lost glory in the sector.
She added; “Infrastructure in our College is very low because we can’t access funds at TETfund. Some of the universities and Polytechnics’ projects are funded through Tetfund, but because we are monotechnic, we can’t access these funds.
“The College was granted a tertiary status 10 years ago, despite no record showing that it has been granted any capital grant to institute projects . Our graduates are dealing with human beings, so they needed to be thoroughly grilled, that makes the issue of facilities very prime”.
