PanNigerianNews 
The Federal Polytechnic, Ayede on Tuesday kicked off a two-day staff orientation workshop at the Polytechnic’s Iresa-Pupa temporary site with the institution’s academic staff as its primary beneficiaries.
The workshop, which had in attendance eminent scholars as its resource persons, including the Rector of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, (OSPOLY), Dr Tajudeen Odetayo, Dr Halira Babalola, Dr Caroline Adewusi, Comrade Isaac Komolafe, all from the Federal Polytechnic, Ede and Dr Esther Oduntan of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, was aimed at equipping the staff and reacquainting them with their purpose as important members of the institution ahead of the student’s resumption slatef for April.
The two-day workshop was divided into sessions: orientation/lectures by external resource persons and micro teaching by internal resource persons.
In his opening remark, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Engr Dr Taofeek Abdul-Hameed, urged all the staff to participate actively as the institution prepared to welcome its pioneer students.
The Rector said, “When Prof Dakas C. J. Dakas SAN-led Governing Council and the management realised that our students would be coming in very soon, probably by April, by our plan, we felt that there was a need for us to give you the rudiments of teachings, so to say, because as you are seated here, you are the moulders of the future of the younger ones.
“Our teachers are here and we want you to learn from these erudite scholars so that by the time our students are coming in, you are going to be good ambassadors of the Federal polytechnic, Ayede. And when we talk about teaching, it is not just about ordinary rote learning; it is not just about memorising, and that is why the motto of this institution is “learning, dexterity and morals”.
“The teaching component is there; that of skills acquisition is there and that of morality as well. So, these eminent scholars would be the first teachers that could come around to teach you how to achieve this motto that has been given to this institution. You have to be role models to the younger ones,” the Rector said.
Engr Dr Abdul-Hameed also tasked the staff of the institution on ethical conduct, adding that, despite the rhythmic successes recorded so far, it is not yet Uhuru.
He continued, “The Federal Polytechnic, Ayede was established in 2021, just about two years ago, alongside five others. Ever since then, the management team, in conjunction with the Governing Council, has been trying our best to ensure that this institution is growing almost 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. What we are doing today, none of them has ever done it. 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, have a lot to be done by every one of us.”
Also speaking at the event, the resource persons including the Rector of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Dr Tajudeen Odetayo, who was represented by Dr Olugbemi Olaleye; Dr Caroline Adewusi and Dr Halira Babalola of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede who were former Deputy Rectors of the institution, urged the lecturers to be on their toes.
According to them, the staff are expected to tutor, mentor, counsel and also be interested in the affairs of the students, adding that as lecturers “we are in the institution because of these students, if the students are not available, then our existence is unnecessary.
“As pioneer lecturers, it is what you put in that you will get as benefits. You are lucky you have a competent rector who has been in the system for very long, he knows what needs to be done, however, he needs collective efforts. He needs the support of all to put in the system, a tradition that will build the institution into what you all want it to be,” the scholars stressed.
Comrade Komolafe also dwelled extensively on the dos and don’ts of examination.
