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EDUCATION

YCT FLOODS LABOUR MARKET WITH 8, 411 FRESH GRADUATES

BY MILES OLU and ELIJAH OKONKWO

The Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos has technologically, technically, academically and vocationally flooded the labour market with 8, 411 fresh graduates.  

Speaking as the Rector of the college Engr. Obafemi Omokungbe at the 33^rd convocation ceremony of the award of Diplomas and Certificates said that a total number of Eight thousand four hundred and eleven (8, 411) graduands comprising full – time and the part time for 2017 / 2018 Academic session adding that the Higher National Diploma (HND) level. One hundred and forty – eight (148) students graduated with Distinctions. One thousand, seven hundred and fifty – five (1,755) with Upper credit, One thousand, seven hundred and eighty – one (1, 781) with Lower credit and four hundred and eighteen (418) with pass grade. Speaking further the rector of the college Engr. Omokungbe said that at the National Diploma level. One thousand and nine (1, 009) with Upper Credit, two thousand, five hundred and seventy-five (1, 575) with Lower credit and One thousand three hundred and thirteen (1, 313) with pass as he added that three (3) students graduated with Upper credit, ten (10) with Lower credit and two (2) with pass in the Professional Diploma programmes of the college.

Speaking again the rector Engr. Omokungbe gave an inspiring narrative of his administration which began in March, 2018 with supports and approval of the governing council a five (5) year strategic plan was adopted for the college with the following focal points.

·        Academic Enhancement and Development

·        Upgrading, refurbishment and maintenance of existing structures

·        Physical and Infrastructural Development of Epe campus

·        Staff and student welfare

·        Improvement of Internally Generated Revenue base of the college.

Speaking again to the audience the college rector Engr. Omokungbe said that in less than two years of the inauguration of his administration, they had achieved a modest accomplishment as he also noted that a lot still need to be done to heavily and pleasantly fulfil their dreams. The college rector Engr. Omokungbe used the 33^rd convocation ceremony of 2017 / 2018 academic session to thank the Governing Council members, staffers of the college, students and the entire surrounding communities for their unflinching understanding and supportiveness at all times.

Speaking as the chairman of the Governing Council of the Yaba College of Technology Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN said that efforts had been made to drive a fairly stable academic calendar, provide a peaceful and conducive environment for teaching and learning as well as encourage noble interaction amongst students as he commended the college management team to have improved on security on college while ensuring that all necessary requirements for pleasurable studies including consumables and classroom furniture had been adequately provided for the students.

Speaking further the chairman, Governing Council Prince Fagbemi said that they are heavily aware that the college could only respond to national development through commitment to excellence and innovation in the teaching and learning through their staffers and students adding that in pursuant to this objectives, the council granted approval for replacement of exited staffers to strengthen the existing workforce.

He says that efforts are still being made to recruit highly qualified academic staff to further enhance the establishment academic standards adding that there had been a deliberate policy by council to the effect that priority was given to projects that are contributory to the enhancement of academic standards as well as there were renovation and construction of classrooms and offices in the two campuses, renovation and construction of student hostels, provision of Laboratory / workshop equipment, refurbishment of existing Laboratories, replacement of classroom furniture et’al.

He says that approvals had been granted for the purchase of relevant Laboratory equipment to upgrade the workshop and Laboratories in the preparation for the accreditation of college programmes scheduled for December 2019.

Speaking to the audience the Hon. Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu who was ably represented by Dr. Joel Ojo a director in the ministry said that he has following with keen interest the worthy contributions of the college towards the development of technology and ultimately national growth adding that the recent selection of the college as an I – hub centre by UNESCO / UNEVOC is a confirmation of its capability for innovations. He says that Yaba College of Technology is one of the two institutions selected for Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Africa as he congratulated the management of the college on these laudable achievements.

Speaking again the Hon. Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu said that government is committed to growing the opportunities in the educational sector as government had continued to provide the enabling environment for quality, technological, Vocational Education to ensure the attainment of outstanding development of the teeming youths and job creation adding that this is what informed the inclusive of TVET as one of the pillars in Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP) 

Speaking further he said that government had expanded a lot of resources through TETFUND interventions for tertiary institutions and would continue to invest more resources that are actually relevant to the speedy technological and socio – economic development of the republic for instance the new Innovative Development Effectiveness and Skills Acquisition (IDEAS) project is an attempt to ensure improvement and upgrading of Laboratory facilities in all Federal Technical Colleges and some selected institutions across the six geo – political zones.

Speaking with Iconblazemagazineonline portal the dean of School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology Dr. Okolie Nwabueze Peter, he says that his candid message to the fresh graduands from the school of Technology and the entire college is that they the graduands should be good ambassadors and representatives of Yaba College of Technology wherever they find themselves in futures as he added that they all should join hands with alumni group to give back to the very institution that had moulded them productively.

He said that the school of technology is a special school because of the training of her students as they had Annual Lecture, Exhibition and fundraising with the theme (Restructuring Education and Research System for Technological Advancement in Nigeria). He said the annual lecture attracted uncommon speakers who delivered scholarly papers, adding that the Flour Mill Nigeria Plc donated a Hiace Eighteen seater bus to the school Technology for research works et’al. 

He said that they have started planning for the 2020 annual lecture as the he hopes and believes that next year annual lecture would also record uncommon successes to the glory of God and mankind.

Speaking with Iconblazemagazineonlineportal the Dean school of Liberal studies, Yaba College of Technology Willington Ikpen said that he became the Dean of school of Liberal studies early this year and that by the grace of God, cooperation of co – workers and students that the job has been going on nicely. He said that the 2017 / 2018 academic session of the fresh graduates are the best the college has produced for some time now judging from the prizes the overall best students received.

He further said that his message to the graduands of his school of Liberal studies and that of the entire college is that they should remember where they are coming from and also have it at the back of their mind where they are going to adding that they should be unimaginably good representatives of the college where ever they find themselves in future. He generally appealed to them to give back to the very system that raised them uncommonly when the showers of blessing of God fall upon them.