Ogbomoso First Community Initiative hands over Skills Acquisition Centre to Fed Poly Ayede
pannigeriannews
3 min read
By Aliyu Mofoluwaso Raheem
The Ogbomoso First Community Initiative, on Wednesday, handed over its Skills Acquisition Centre to the Federal Polytechnic Ayede (FEDPA), Ogbomoso for the training of students and other members of the community, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both parties.
The handover ceremony which took place at the Sir Ademola Dare-Williams Hall, O’First Group Centre, Oke Osuuru, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, also featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Centre for Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development of the Federal Polytechnic Ayede and the Ogbomoso First Community Initiative to formalise the use of the facility for technical and vocational training.
Speaking at the event, the President of Group, Arch. Sakiru Suara, said education without practical skills is no longer sufficient in the modern era. He urged trainees and users of the centre to complement their academic qualifications with vocational skills in order to create multiple sources of income.
Arch. Suara commended the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed, for his steadfast commitment to ensuring that every graduate of the institution acquires at least one practical skill. He also shared how his father’s work as a bricklayer played a significant role in shaping his own future.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ogbomoso First Community Initiative, Otunba Bayo Babatunde, said the group was founded in 2009 with the core objective of making the Ogbomoso development agenda a priority in all its interventions.
Otunba Babatunde noted that the initiative has recorded notable achievements, including the distribution of thousands of exercise books to secondary school students in Ogbomoso, as well as the empowerment of many indigent residents through the provision of sewing machines, motorcycles, hairdressing equipment and other vocational tools.
In his remarks, the Rector of the institution, Engr. Dr. Abdul-Hameed, applauded the contributions of Ogbomoso indigenes to the growth of the institution, describing Arch. Suara as one of the pillars of the polytechnic who facilitated the early take-off of the school by providing the administrative building at the Iresa-Apa campus.
Dr. Abdul-Hameed urged members of the community to live lives worthy of emulation and serve as shining examples to others. He also disclosed that the institution would soon benefit from another project facilitated by an indigene of the town and council representative, Professor Jide Ajao.
Earlier, the Director of the Centre for Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Christopher Owojori, represented by Mrs. Kafayat Olawumi Bulala, explained that the programme at the centre is designed primarily for indigenes of Ogbomoso and its environs under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative.
He said the programme was supported by the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), adding that each trainee will receive a monthly stipend, while the centre will also be funded to support the six-month programme.
The O’First Group said the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both parties is expected to run for an initial period of two years.
Others in attendance on the side of the Ogbomoso First Community Initiative included a retired Commissioner of Police, CP Dejo Oyelowo; Engr. Akinloye Oyekola; Chief Bayo Eegunbiyi; and Professor Jide Ajao.
On the side of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede were the Deputy Rector (Academic), Dr. Azeez Olasunkanmi Ojo; the Registrar, Mr. Akin Odesola, represented by the Deputy Registrar, Mr. Gafar Kolapo Olatinwo; the Polytechnic Librarian, Dr. Samuel Oke Ogunniyi; as well as Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments and Units, staff and students of the institution.
In his remarks, CO Dejo Oyelowo announced that the two best trainees would be supported and fully equipped at the end of their training.
About The Author
