Ogun State Gov,Dapo Abiodun approves N2bn for MAPOLY, N2.5m reward for top graduates

Ogun State Gov,Dapo Abiodun approves N2bn for MAPOLY, N2.5m reward for top graduates

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday, announced a N2 billion intervention fund for infrastructural development at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Ojere, Abeokuta.

He also revealed a cash reward of N2.5 million each for the best graduating students from the 2015/2016 to 2023/2024 academic sessions.

Governor Abiodun made the announcement during the institution’s 15th combined convocation ceremony, which covered nine academic sessions from 2016 to 2024.

Reflecting on the institution’s challenges, the governor expressed regret over former Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s decision to relocate the polytechnic to Ipokia and rename it Ogun State Polytechnic, describing the move as a setback to the once-thriving institution.

He said the challenge of returning the institution to its glorious past was one of the early challenges his administration had to crack.

He lamented that the policy caused the 46-year-old polytechnic, boasting of a student population of about 30,000, to fall to as low as 5,000 students.

Abiodun said it took conscious efforts to revitalise the flagship institution, as he was happy that the school was now coming back to life with about 13,000 students.

He said this was achieved after several trips to the National Board of Technical Examinations, the regulatory body for polytechnic education in the country, coupled with the help of the fact-finding committee set up to resuscitate the institution.

“Let me use this opportunity to unveil some of the intervention projects that we want to embark upon in the polytechnic. We shall be building a 500-seater ultramodern lecture theatre.

“We shall also be constructing the road leading to the auditorium of the polytechnic, building a well-equipped modern library, a building for the accountancy department, some other road projects, all of these interventions stand at N2bn,” he said.

He added, “For the best-graduating student for each session, there is also a cash prize of N2.5m.”

The governor also challenged the 51,000 graduating students to be daring, innovative and make a difference and impact the world for good.

He said, “To the graduating students, the future may have its challenges, but it also holds endless possibilities. You must, therefore, be daring, innovative and resilient.

“Let the knowledge and values you acquired here in the polytechnic be your driving force to be change agents.

“Go forth and make a difference, go and impact your immediate environment, the state, the country, and the world at large and forever be a proud ambassador of this great institution.”

In his address, the Rector of the institution, Dr Babatunde Jolaoso, said his six-month administration had fostered an atmosphere of peace, stability, and mutual understanding among the staff and the students.

He said aside from pursuing infrastructural development of the polytechnic, his administration also secured the long-awaited approval from the National Broadcasting Commission for full transmission rights for 99.7FM MAPOLY Campus Radio, cleared N76m standing debt owed to a commercial bank, among others.

He, however, pleaded with the government for adequate funding of its accreditation exercises, completion of the abandoned students’ hostel project, and construction of lecture rooms, and internal roads, among others.

While congratulating the graduates, Jolaoso urged them to leverage the knowledge acquired while at the polytechnic to make meaningful contributions to society.

The Chairman of the Governing Council of the institution, Emeritus Prof Kamaldeen Balogun, thanked the governor for giving the polytechnic support and qualitative leadership.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, delivering the convocation lecture, urged the youth who wish to migrate to do so legally, to avoid some heart-wrenching stories.

Dabiri-Erewa highlighted the tragic outcomes faced by many Nigerians who, by ignoring legal migration channels, lost their lives or ended up in slavery and forced prostitution.

She urged the institution to formulate policies that promote collaboration with Nigerians in the diaspora, emphasizing the need to harness the numerous opportunities such partnerships can bring to advance the development of the polytechnic.