Makinde Restates Education Drive as 3,393 Graduate from The Polytechnic, Ibadan
The Oyo State Government has reiterated its focus on strengthening education and producing graduates equipped for today’s competitive world, as The Polytechnic, Ibadan, graduated 3,393 students during its 40th convocation ceremony.
Governor Seyi Makinde, who spoke through his Deputy, Adebayo Lawal, said the state has continued to prioritise education since the beginning of the current administration, with deliberate policies aimed at improving learning outcomes at all levels.
According to him, funding and reforms in the sector have been steadily improved over the years, while challenges affecting tertiary institutions, particularly manpower shortages, are being addressed through recruitment and capacity development.
He said, “We are fully aware of the manpower challenges facing tertiary institutions, including The Polytechnic, Ibadan. That is why the government has continued to address staff shortages through regular recruitment and capacity-building initiatives to ensure effective teaching and learning.”
Makinde added that the state is collaborating closely with the management of the institution to reposition it for global relevance, noting that graduates must be innovative and forward-thinking to succeed in a fast-changing world.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who received a Fellowship Award from the institution, described education as central to national development.
He urged the graduands to uphold the image of their alma mater wherever they find themselves, saying, “Always strive wherever you find yourselves, whatever position that you occupy in life, to be good ambassadors of this great institution.”
The monarch announced a donation of N5 million to support the best graduating students, alongside other prizes for outstanding performance across departments.
Earlier, the Acting Rector, Taiwo Lasisi, disclosed that the graduating set comprised 1,514 National Diploma students and 2,879 Higher National Diploma students across five faculties each. He revealed that the overall best graduating student recorded a CGPA of 3.87.
Lasisi stressed that all graduands acquired practical skills during their training, positioning them for self-reliance even without government employment.
He also renewed the call for policy reforms in Nigeria’s tertiary education system, urging the Federal Government to make polytechnics degree-awarding institutions with a focus on Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degrees.
He argued that such a move would resolve the long-standing disparity between polytechnic and university graduates, citing examples from countries like China and the United Kingdom.
In her remarks, the overall best graduating student, Basirat Yusuf, expressed gratitude to the institution’s management for fostering an environment that encourages academic excellence and skill development.
