By Charles Abere.
The Founder of Ajayi Polytechnic, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Dr. Busayo Ajayi, said Statistics have shown that more than 21 million Nigerians are presently unemployed. The number which according to him is increasing by the day has made the Nigerian graduates end up becoming liability to their parents after graduation.
The proprietor revealed this during the 5th Matriculation ceremony of the Polytechnic, held at the main campus of the Institution in Ikere-Ekiti.
Lamenting the deplorable situation of education in Nigeria, he said “our effort as education provider will be a failure if our graduates end up increasing the number of unemployed youths. Our intervention in providing education is to reduce the number of unemployed by equipping our graduates with the required skills that will put them in positions to create jobs.
“We want to produce solution providers and not people that will add to the problem of the nation. We want to produce job creators and not job seekers. We are producing giants.
In Nigeria, we found ourselves in a situation whereby our students end up spending more than 6 years for 4 years course not because they fail but due to Lecturers/Academic staff strike. The founder explained.
Stressing further, Dr. Ajayi opined that the only option available to parents now is to enrol their students in Private Institution. Noting that in Nigeria, only children of the rich could afford private institution. Saying the poor are becoming poorer, and the rich are becoming richer.
Adding that, It is now becoming a situation whereby the society has been designed to put some children at disadvantage because of the inability of the parents to afford sending their students to private school so that generation of the poor will continue to serve generation of the rich.
Keeping to the vision of Raising Industrial Giants, the owner of Ajayi Polytechnic stressed that
the goal of the institution, is to ensure that all its students acquire at least one skill that can put them in the position to set up sustainable business after their education.
“As the world changes, so do the skills students need to build their careers and to build a better society. For students to acquire these evolving skills, we believe educators must help students develop an entrepreneurial mindset”.
Dr. Busayo Ajayi explained that the matriculating students have been enrolled to learn one or two skills such as phone repairs, graphic design, computer repairs, catering, hospitality industry management skills and the rest.
“I want to reiterate that our plan to change the narrative is genuine and with sincerity of purpose. We believe in equal opportunity, and we do not want any student to be at disadvantage because of their background, that’s why we are making scholarship available for students. I am proud to say that we are the most affordable privately owned institution in Nigeria”. Ajayi explained.
The founder therefore advised the newly admitted students to comply with rules and regulations of the polytechnic, as he made them to realise that minimum attendance of lectures would be required before they are allowed to sit for examinations. Adding that the school authority is determined to groom the students towards embracing positive virtues that are ideal for future leaders that will make impact in this generation.
In their separate interviews, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Mrs. Bolanle Ajayi, said if the Students are groomed in various entrepreneurship as highlighted by the Founder, they wouldn’t have to depend on government jobs at the end of the day, the former Commissioner for Works in Ekiti State, Mrs. Funmilayo Ogun, noted that globally, it has got to a level that one needs to be skillful to make an impact. She explained that, that’s one of the visions of Ajayi Polytechnic.
Ogun, encouraged the students to put into practice all they have learnt and all they would still learn in the Polytechnic as she explained that the school would open their minds to innovative ideas, adding that they don’t have to wait searching for jobs after leaving the school.
Earlier, the former State Director of National Directorate of Employment and former Head of Training, Centre for Entrepreneurship, Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Mrs. Abimbola Oni, who was a Guest Speaker at the seminar organised as part of the activities lined up for the 5th Matriculation ceremony of the Polytechnic in a lecture titled;
ROAD MAP TO SUSTAINABLE ENTREPRENEURSHIP ANDINNOVATION DEVELOPMENT,
implored the students to imbibe the spirit of entrepreneurship which according to the expert, would make them to be financially independent.
In her words, “you have to define your own goals to accomplish them. Your ability to succeed in your business depends on your purpose and always operating at full potentials.
“The advantage you have as a student of the polytechnic, is that you will be exposed to more of practical teachings than theory”. Dr Abimbola said