Federal Polytechnic, Ayede: Two Years of Progress

 

In line with the determination of his administration to make tertiary education more accessible to young Nigerians, former President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2021, just about two years ago, established the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, in Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area of Oyo state, alongside five other Polytechnics.

The President thereafter approved the appointments of eminent Nigerians, seasoned administrators, and core professionals as management teams and members of the Governing Council for the institution.

Interestingly, a highly revered Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and a detribalised leader, Professor Dakas J Dakas was appointed as the pioneer  Chairman of the governing council while a scholar of no mean stature, Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed became the Rector.

Moments after his historic appointment, the Rector, and his management team settled down to rigorous work, and as a visionary and focused leader with the political will towards making the institution envious of all, Dr. Abdul-hameed-led management commenced and concluded the recruitment process for various positions in academic and non-academic cadres.

 

 

Even though the management team is not resting on its oars to ensure that the citadel of learning is growing daily, it would be placed on record that the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, is becoming the fastest-growing among its contemporaries. The institution, after inspection by a team of inspectors from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), had successfully secured approval to run four courses while efforts are ongoing to secure approval for about fifteen more courses.

The approved courses are Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Science Laboratory Technology, and Statistics respectively. In addition, Federal Polytechnic, Ayede (FEDPA), has not only completed admission processes and matriculated its 211 pioneer students but also commenced the first semester examinations at the Iresa-Pupa temporary site for the 2022/2023 academic session.

Although, with these remarkable achievements, opinion molders and observers were of the view that the Dr. Abdul-hameed -led FEDPA management team has reached its crescendo, however, to the University of Ilorin trained electrical engineer, the only reward for success is continuous hard work.

Addressing the staff recently at a two-day orientation workshop organised by the institution, the Rector said, “The federal polytechnic, Ayede was established in 2021, just about two years ago, alongside five other polytechnics. Ever since then, the management team in conjunction with the Governing Council have been working hard to ensure that this institution is growing daily.

“When you talk about the fastest growing polytechnic among its peers, sincerely yours, it’s not an understatement, Federal Polytechnic, Ayede stands out among the remaining five. Even though we were granted only four programmes to commence with, none of the other five polytechnics has been granted a single one. So, when we say we are the fastest growing polytechnic, it is not as if I am being boastful, but saying this to encourage us that we as foundation staff of this institution, still have a lot to do, to improve at the present level ”.

As a relationship expert, Dr. Abdul-hameed has enjoyed a worthwhile relationship and conflict-free administration, especially with the Governing Council, principal officers, staff, the institution’s stakeholders, and the host communities. It is indeed imperative to state that over these past two (2) years, the Polytechnic under Dr. Abdul-hameed’s focused leadership has witnessed reasonable growth, as his efforts have not only attracted remarkable development to Federal Polytechnic, Ayede (FEDPA) using his networks and influence but has also opened up the fledging institution to great opportunities in a few years to come.

The Polytechnic has received various support including the donation of staff quarters by former Senator Ayo Adeseun, the donation of four blocks of classrooms and offices at the Iresa-Pupa temporary site, the donation of a bus by Hon. Sunday Dare, former Minister for Youths and Sports and an indigene of Ogbomoso, in addition to the four vehicles procured by the management, comprising three Hilux pickups and one Toyota sixteen seater bus.

 

Others are the donation of laptops among other office equipment worth six million naira by the Ogbomoso Consultative Council (OCC), led by a former military governor of Oyo and Ogun states, Maj. General Oladayo Popoola (retd.) and the Pivotal Club of Ogbomoso supported the institution’s ICT centre with the sum of one million naira (N1m) respectively.

Despite the multifarious challenges confronting the institution, the two -years of Dr. Abdul-hameed’s led management, have been eventful as it has recorded several breakthroughs on many fronts. The rector and his team remain undeterred, but rather committed to enthroning a culture of excellence and effective service delivery in all segments of the Polytechnic.

 

Having realised that the federal government alone can no longer shoulder the responsibility in the education sector, the management has successfully established a business venture for the institution, not only to boost its Internally Generated Revenue but to meet the needs of the institution, in the areas of staff and students welfare. At different fora, the Rector had not only allayed the fears over the alleged relocation of the institution but as well discarded the misconception that Ayede, which is its permanent site, has been shortchanged. But, he has also assured that all projects from the previous and 2023 budgets would be concentrated on the permanent site.

In his words, “It is a truism that Ayede remains the permanent site of the institution and nothing, whatsoever, can tamper it. It is a government policy. When you go to Abuja, all the documents bear the name Ayede. If you go to the permanent site now, roads are being constructed. All projects from the 2022 and 2023 budgets are being concentrated on the permanent site. Most of what you see at the temporary site here at Iresa -Pupa are donations from people, including this administrative building. We are working towards ensuring that we move to the permanent site before the expected time”, Abdul-Hameed noted.

Today, massive infrastructure development is ongoing at the polytechnic’s permanent site, Ayede, in Ogo Oluwa Local Government Area of Oyo state. No fewer than eleven (11) buildings, including the administrative office housing fifty offices, lecture theatre, and classrooms among others nearing completion.

Understanding that human capacity plays an important role in the overall success of any organisation as its increased productivity level depends on the level of competence of its workforce, the Rector has been committed to human capital development through various training, retraining, seminars, and workshops to develop staff abilities to function effectively and efficiently in the institution.

As part of his welfare efforts, the Rector provided an end-of-a-year package for all the staff and the host community. Also, in his resolve to make the daunting challenge of electricity in the Polytechnic a thing of the past, due to erratic power supply, Dr. Abdul-Hameed – led administration has procured a 500KVA Mikano generator. Without much ado, the Polytechnic Rector has expressed his determination on producing students who are not only productive but also functional and active employers of labour with the skills of impacting positively in society.

Unveiling his vision for the institution, Dr. Abdul-Hameed said: “The Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State has hit the ground running, commencing her journey to become a positive subject of global attention in providing functional and technical education geared towards making our graduates employers of labour.”

The remarkable and steady growth of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo state, in the past two years under the leadership of Dr. Abdul-Hameed has overwhelmed the ‘doubting Thomases’, judging by various innovation the founding Rector has brought into the system with a rare gusto and determination.

 

 

Idowu Ayodele; writes from Oyo State, Nigeria.