3 hours ago
4
Igbajo Polytechnic in Osun State is the first community citadel of learning in the country. Our correspondent, ADEOLU ADEYEMO who visited the school reports.
Igbajo polytechnic, Osun State, is the first community institution of learning in the country where holistic educational principle is embraced by all stakeholders of the institution. In fact, knowledge impartations on students are based on the three domains of learning which are cognitive, affective and psychomotor.
The rector of the polytechnic, Dr Ganiyu Abimbola Adebisi, in an interview with Nigeria Tribune remarked that education is power and an harmonious training of physical mental and social capacity of every individual saying, this should be given to learners to let them be liberated and self independent in their various engagements while in school and after their educational attainments in school.
According to him, “we have a very functional skill acquisition entrepreneurship centre where we train our students so that by the time they graduate, they will go home with a certificate and a skill. We want our students to be job creators and not job seekers and we have been achieving that.”
“The white-collar job is no longer available, and the best thing is to think out of the box.”
“The paints used on most of the buildings in our institution are produced by the students. They also do block-moulding and interlocking, fashion designing, leather works, and so on.
“We invite experts from the industry to train our students and they are all doing well in their chosen skills.”
“In a bid to supplement whatever we are getting from the students, we engage in farming activities. We have about five hectares of palm oil plantation that we are growing presently, coupled with another five hectares for maize. Immediately after we harvest our maize, our plan is to go into pepper cultivation. This is just to be able to utilise our strength to our advantage.”
“We see this as a way of giving back to the community. Once we start harvesting our farm produce, our plan is to sell them first to the host community before we attend to the outsiders.
“This also serves as an opportunity for some of our indigent students to study and work. We employ them to work on the farm, and we pay them stipend to support them.”
“Also, last year, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology to establish a state-of-the-art glass-blowing workshop to train our students and attract more people into the school.”
“Most importantly, we have entered an agreement with the state government to be manufacturing smaller glassware.”
“We have trained staff in the workshop who train our students. After teaching them the theory aspect in the classroom, we lead them to the workshop for the practical aspect.”
Speaking on the programme of the institution and others, the rector pointed out that, “going by the last count, we have more than 15 accredited programmes both at the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma levels.”
“Igbajo Polytechnic foundation was consummated in 2005, but the academic activities kick-started in 2008. The polytechnic occupies about 50.08 hectares of land. We have started mobilising our students for the National Youth Service Corps Scheme since 2015 up till date.”
“The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) ranked Igbajo Polytechnic 18th among all the Polytechnics in Nigeria, both public and private. This shows that we know what we are doing as an institution and that we have been producing the best of graduates. Our staff members are great, always ready to give their best to the students.”
“As the first community Polytechnic in Nigeria, we already have about 125 permanent staff which includes both the academic and non-academic staff.”
“Our students are not doing badly either. Last month, 22 of our students in Science Laboratory Technology went for the Nigeria Institute of Science Laboratory Technology qualifying examination, and 21 of them passed all the papers. The remaining student failed only one paper. This is to tell you that we give our students the best.”
“For our graduates, they are all doing well, and this has been our selling point to others who intend to join us. Since we started mobilising our students for NYSC in 2015, we have not failed at any point in doing so as at when due.”
On the Organogram of the Polytechnic, he explained that, “the visitor to the Polytechnic is the current Owa of Igbajoland, Oba Dr)Ademola Makinde. Our Board of Trustees, headed by Asiwaju of Igbajoland, Adegboyega Awomoolo (SAN) is made up of men of caliber; they have been the ones backing us financially.
“The governing council, which is the think-tank of the institution, formulates our policies, and it is headed by Professor O.S Awokola. Following the council are the management, staff, and the students. All the structures in the school were donated by individuals.
“Apart from the scholarship we give to some of our students, the polytechnic provides a serene environment for them to learn, and our tuition is very low compared to other polytechnics around. We allow our students to pay in instalments.”
When asked how the institution is coping with expenses in this present economic situation, he stated that, “we have our benefactors among the people of Igbajo community who assist us in no small measures. Basically, we use the school fees for overhead. However, for capital development, people have been doing that on our behalf. Right now, we are not thinking of increasing our school fees.”
Read Also: Trump’s cabinet picks, appointees face bomb threat, swatting incidents
On the challenges confronting the polytechnic, he admitted, “ there are challenges, but like I used to tell my team, challenges are made for human beings, and you don’t limit your challenges but challenge your limits. Men are created to solve problems and we will continue to solve them”.
“Part of the challenges we have is the issue of funds and security, but we have been able to navigate through them. The issue of security has been sorted too as we now enjoy peace in the school and around the community. On our own, we are in partnership with the Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. More so, we have our own indigenous security outfit and the officers have been doing well.”
“Currently, our institution operates an off-campus system. We are still very young and from experience, we have deduced that it is not easy to manage an institution as young as this and still be managing halls of residence alongside it. However, we have not closed our minds to it. Over time, we intend to go into private partnership. We are open to private individuals who can build hostels and we will enter into an agreement with them.”
Also, in remarks, the Chairman of the Governing Council of Igbajo Polytechnic, Professor O. S. Awokola said “Igbajo Polytechnic has always been a pillar of excellence in education, and it is our duty to uphold and enhance that legacy.”
“Our institution is more than just a place of learning; it is a vibrant community where dreams are nurtured, talents are honed, and futures are shaped. As we move forward, my vision is to ensure that we continue to provide our students with the highest quality of education, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”
“To achieve this, we will strengthen our academic programmes, ensuring they are not only relevant but also innovative.”
“We must be proactive in aligning our curriculum with the needs of the modern workforce, fostering partnerships with industry leaders and stakeholders. Also, enhancing our infrastructure will be a priority.”
“A state-of-the-art learning environment is essential for cultivating creativity and critical thinking. We will seek to improve our facilities and resources, ensuring that our students and faculty have what they need to excel. Also, I am committed to promoting inclusivity and diversity within our institution.”
“Every member of our community brings unique perspectives and experiences. We will create an environment that celebrates these differences, fostering collaboration and mutual respect. I, therefore, I urge every faculty, staff, and students, to actively engage in the mission of the school, their insights, ideas, and dedication are crucial to our success.”
“Together, we can create a dynamic and inspiring educational environment. As we embark on this journey, I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.”
“I am confident that with our collective efforts, Igbajo Polytechnic will continue to shine as a beacon of knowledge, innovation, and community service.
