Hopes, supports for new Ayede Poly as Ogbomosoland Consultative Council hosts Governing Council

By Sunday ADEPOJU

It was moments of supports, hopes and renewed pledges as eminent people of Ogbomoso under the auspices of the Ogbomosoland Consultative Council hosted the Governing Council of the newly established Federal Polytechnic, Ayede in Ogbomoso zone of Oyo State to a cocktail reception as part of synergy between the institution and the host communities.

President Muhammadu Buhari had, last year, announced the institution along six others across the country. Since the announcement, PanNigerian News’s investigation revealed that the OCC, together with other groups, has been working out modalities to enhance the smooth take off of administrative, technical and academic activities of the polytechnic whose temporary site is the National Youth Development Centre, Idi Ayin, Surulere local government area.

Not only that, the OCC, it was learnt, is not sparing efforts towards developing the permanent site, located at Ayede, Surulere local government area, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

The reception was the aftermath of a welcome event as the school’s governing council’s first working visit to Ogbomoso after their appointment which also took place at the instance of the principal officers of the institution held on Wednesday at the Ogbomoso Recreation Club, along Ogbomoso-Ilorin express road.

The governing council, headed by Prof. Dakas C.J. Dakas, and the principal officers, led by the rector, Dr Taofeeq Adekunle Abulhamid, and registar, Mr Akin Odesola, had the opportunity of engaging major stakeholders in the development project of Ogbomoso, centering on the institution.

Interestingly, the institution is the first of its kind in Oyo State. Until the announcement of the institution, the state never had a federal polytechnic.

The community leaders included, but not limited to: former governor of both Oyo and Ogun states, Maj. Gen. Oladayo Popoola (rtd); former Oyo State Chief Judge, Justice Afolabi Adeniran; Dr Saka Balogun; President of Ogbomoso First Community Initiative (O’First Group), Barrister Olusegun Adekunle; Amb. Akin Oyateru; Director-General of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof. Segun Ajiboye.

Barrister Adekunle, who welcomed the visitors on behalf of the OCC said the gathering would provide ample avenue to, in addition to the afternoon session, synergise on how the institution and community would achieve its goals.

The Are-Ago of Ogbomosoland – High Chief Sobaloju Otolorin, Gen. Popoola, Justice Adeniran, among other community leaders, in their different speeches, drummed support and solidarity for the institution.

Dr Balogun, in his keynote address, lauded the role of the management and the governing council. He reiterated that nothing will jeopardise the permanent site of the institution, which is Ayede. “I assure you all that nothing will tamper with the location of the institution. We will appreciate the council more if they can even abridge the time for the take off so that instead of September this year that that has been planned, it may be July or August,” Balogun said.

Delivering his speech on the perspectives by chairman of the institution’s host community implementation sub-committee, Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, whose speech was delivered by the TRCN boss, Prof. Segun Ajiboye, narrated, “When the idea of the polytechnic came, the Community was not sleeping. The Ogbomoso Community set up an implementation committee under the auspices of the OCC. Immediately we got the green light, you will recollect when polytechnics were to be set up, six of them came at the same time. Three had locations, ours and two others.

“Part of our jobs was to draw up programmes and that was done by a sub-committee led by Prof. Rom Kalilu. The minister donated a bus to the institution. We have made strides and by September this year, we are going to take off.

“I want to assure you that the OCC and the Ogbomoso people will continue to support the lofty institution’s objectives. We are going to have a big lunching to do something that is tangible for the polytechnic. So, Ogbomoso people should rest assured that the polytechnic has come to stay and that it is a law and the law calls it Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Ogo Oluwa local government area of the state.”

Speaking further, the minister charged the council to build relationship with some notable leaders of the community to achieve the desired results.

“Another thing I will quickly tell the council is that they should not forget the roots; there are contacts that they need. And I know the council chairman will get the contacts of our notable community members even from today. We have also discussed with the rector. Our federal lawmakers and others could be of help to sustain the legacy, especially in terms of zonal intervention projects. I have also discussed with the rector on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

“We don’t have to forget history. We had a permanent secretary when the issue of the school came in Abuja. Please, remember him. The rector and the registrar should go and meet him,” he added.

Reacting, the chairman of the governing council, Prof. Dakar said, “On behalf of the governing council and the management of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, I express our profound appreciation to you for very concerted speeches that we have heard this evening. We want to assure you that by the grace of God, we will leverage on your pieces of advice. I thank you for the meeting that we had in the afternoon.

“From the speeches presented this evening, I have confidence that the institution will be enriched. Is it about the projects that your people have facilitated? In fact, we will try and commence academic activities by September. I thank all the committee’s set up by the host communities for their untiring efforts.

Amb. Oyateru, the spokesperson for the OCC, while speaking to newsmen after the reception meeting which had earlier held at the same venue, said the stakeholders heard some of the agitations in the minds of the local communities.

Oyateru said, “The rector has equally given some assurances to which we want to hold them onto and we have the belief that these assurances made by the rector will have to be realised. The Ogbomoso community as a whole stands ready, willing and eager to collaborate and cooperate with both the school management and the governing council in the realisation of this very lofty objectives.”

Heads/representatives of other community groups/institutions like the Ogbomoso Parapo, Ogbomoso Recreation Club, O’First Group, Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum, Ladoke Akintola University ofmTechnology, Ogbomoso, among others, were present.

One of the heights of the reception was the presentation of awards to Prof. Dakas and Dr Abdulhamid by the OCC.

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