The Polytechnic Ibadan has awarded Diplomas and Certificates to 3,650 graduates of the institution in various areas of learning.
The Acting Rector of the Institution, Dr. Taiwo Lasisi, disclosed this in his address at the 39th Convocation ceremony of the institution on Friday.
He said the graduating students cut across the five faculties of the institution.
The affected faculties, according to the Acting Rector, are the Faculty of Business and Communication Studies with 1,669 graduands, the Faculty of Science with 571, the Faculty of Engineering with 574, the Faculty of Environmental Studies with 333, and the Faculty of Financial Studies with 503.
He charged the graduating students to go into the world and make Nigeria proud.
According to him, “We must believe in our country and work towards making it a land of opportunities, just as it once was.
“We have the resources—both natural and human—to rebuild this nation, and I believe many of you have been equipped through your training to contribute to this cause.”
On some of the challenges being faced by the institution, the Acting Rector listed them to include financial constraints affecting the upgrading of teaching facilities, laboratories, libraries, workshops, internal salary augmentation, NBTE-imposed class capacity limitations, an embargo on prelim programmes by NBTE, and inadequate staff welfare programmes.
Others are deteriorating infrastructure, lack of reliable water supply, high energy costs, security challenges and occasional industrial action.
But the management acknowledged the support of the visitor to the institution and governor of the state, Engr. Seyi Makinde.
“His Excellency has consistently supported us, especially in the area of accreditation, re-accreditation and resource accreditation of academic programmes.”
Meanwhile, Governor Makinde has tasked the management of the institution on renewable energy as an alternate power supply.
The Governor, who was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner of Education and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, submitted that a technology-based institution has no reason to complain about an epileptic power supply.
According to him, “The institution should look inward by taking advantage of emerging technologies.
“The world over is sourcing for alternate power supplies. The Polytechnic Ibadan should look towards renewable energy. You can generate your own power supply. It can be a solar mini-grid.”
On the request for lecture halls, I disagree with you. The world has gone beyond packing the students inside one hall. You should develop your ICT infrastructure.
On the road network, the government will do something about that in no distant time.”
