Pioneer Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State, Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed in this interview with Mega Icon Magazine, shares his experience on the journey so far in the past two years as well as his vision for the fastest growing polytechnic, among its peers established in 2021, by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The University of Ilorin trained Electrical Engineer maintained that the institution would thrive on innovation, skills, functional education, and international partnerships.

Excerpts :

As the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, how would you describe the journey so far in the past two years?

First and foremost, we give thanks to God almighty. There have been so many challenges, really. We just have to thank God because most of the challenges have been surmounted one by one and gradually. We also know that Rome was not built in a day. Pioneering a new institution is like being thrown into a bush without a path or compass. You have to be the one to find your way, create your path, design your compass, and find your bearings. It was actually like that, but all the same, we thank God for where we are.

The stage so far might seem not significant to some, but if you compare us with other Polytechnics established at the same time, we can say we are faring very well in terms of manpower, infrastructural development, and in terms of student admission.

To a large extent, we are far better than many of our contemporaries. The summary is that the journey has been so challenging. Like they say, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. We are trying our best, and we hope in the upcoming years, the result will be more manifested than what we have currently.

Very recently, you said the polytechnic is determined on producing functional and active employers of labour after graduation. Can you share your vision for the institution with us?

The vision is still intact. You see there is this saying, being propagated by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Prof. Bugaje, “Skills not degrees”. Looking at what is trending in the advanced world, the emphasis is on skills, digital skills, and other soft skills even more than degrees. Until we can focus on skill acquisition, sincerely yours, Nigeria might not get out of the teething unemployment challenges.

Recently, NBTE and TETFUND organised a seminar for Rectors and Directors of Entrepreneurship Development in various Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria. It gladdens my heart to inform you that a sum of one hundred and thirty million Naira (N130M) has been approved for each of the Federal Polytechnic, specifically to strengthen skills acquisition initiatives.

What are the strategies you intend to deploy to achieve the set of skills development at the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede?

When you talk about skill acquisition, it is not theoretical stuff but built around vocation. It is not the volume of grammar spoken or the quantum of equations one can solve. It is about what you can do with your hands, and this is what matters now.

Sir, you invited the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for the accreditation process with the presentation of thirteen courses, but only four were successfully accredited. Are there plans for other courses to be accredited any time soon?

Thank you! You need to understand that he who does not dare will never conquer. That was the story of the accreditation programme. We aimed very high, presenting thirteen courses. The presentation afforded us the opportunity of knowing what constitutes our strengths and weaknesses for the other eight not accredited courses. The report afforded us that auspicious opportunity, and we have left where they met us then. We believed by the time they come back again they will meet us readily improved.

How would you appraise the presence of the institution in this community and Ogbomoso in general?

Of course, when there is an institution in any community, it will bring about development. Despite the presence of this Polytechnic at the temporary campus, in Iresa-Pupa, the community is already benefiting in terms of patronage, economic boost, and exposure. The students and staff are already renting accommodation, as community members are also bearing witness to this development.

Even at the permanent sites, development is already springing up. Very recently, the then Council Chairman, Professor Dakas C. J. Dakas (SAN) led us to the permanent site. We have not less than eight structures already at various levels of completion. Certainly, after the completion, the community will experience development and economic boom.

Assuming it’s matriculation, what will be your message to the matriculants?

The motto of the school is Learning Dexterity and Moral. Learning is a continuous process and each student must devote themselves to learning to be useful. Dexterity is about skill acquisition that must be developed and improved upon steadily, while morality must be guided to be useful to society. A morally bankrupt person, whatever the volume of the knowledge, cannot be a useful member of any society.

That is why our focus is on learning blended with useful skills guarded by morality. My belief is, by God’s grace, before any student graduates from this Polytechnic, he or she must have developed and perfected at least two major skills.

Sir, looking into the crystal ball, in the next 5 years where would you place the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede?

By God’s grace, Federal Polytechnic, Ayede will stand unique among its peers and even, among older ones. Except for trying to be modest, our achievements, for instance, accessing TETFund interventions are outstanding compared to even older institutions. The polytechnic will thrive on innovation, skills, functional education, and international partnerships. Hopefully, in the next five years, this Polytechnic will be a positive point of reference.

(c) Mega Icon Magazine