Hon. Minister of Education Harps on Positive Character as Yaba College of Technology Marks 31st Convocation Ceremony

Hon. Minister of Education Harps on Positive Character as Yaba College of Technology Marks 31^st Convocation Ceremony

Minister's representative, Dr. Samuel Ojo reading the minister's address

By Leo Ezekiel

The Hon. Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu speaking through Dr. Samuel Ojo, the Director, Tertiary in the Ministry of Education who represented the Hon. Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu harped on positive character from the entire graduating students, as they would be worthy ambassadors of Yaba College of Technology that has time to raise all of them in learning and character. 

Speaking on behalf of the Hon. Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, Dr. Ojo told the academic crowds the historical journey of Yaba College of Technology served as a reference point for the history of educational development of Nigeria, he says that from its humble beginnings in 1947 as the Yaba Technical Institute to its present state, as the College has contributed uncommonly to manpower development as well as economic and technological development of the nations. 

Dr. Ojo says that there is no doubt that education is the bedrock of any nation, Technical and Vocational education plays a key role in the economic empowerment of a country. Therefore Polytechnics have to live up to their mandates and be responsive to the challenges of nation building particularly at this time when the nation is out of economic recession. 

Speaking, Dr. Ojo says educational institutions must embrace the research culture and in the same vein technologically innovation must originate from the Ivory Towers, as he says that Government on its part has put in place structures to support this through grants and interventions from Institutions such as Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Petroleum Technology Development Funds and others. 

Adding that government support, researchers in tertiary institutions should endeavour to avail themselves of the numerous research grants fellowships and other such opportunities from Foundation and Agencies around the world to undertake research and innovation initiatives which would contribute to knowledge and promote economic and technological development. 

Speaking to the audience, Chairman of Council Prince Lateef Fagbemi says it is indeed his privilege to welcome the visitor to the Institution, the Hon. Minister of Education as he reminded the Hon. Minister about the Governing Council of Federal Polytechnics were inaugurated in May 2017, that at the inauguration ceremony the governing council were well briefed on their mandate as well as the expectations of government from them. 

Prince Fagbemi says that the inaugural meeting in the College, Council got a detailed presentation on the state of the College, and therefore became fastly familiar with the historical antecedent of the College, its presents strengths, opportunities and challenges as well as, its vision and projections as this fast familiarity indeed facilitated the early integration of Council with the operations of College. 

Cross section of principal officers of the college at the event

Speaking further Prince Fagbemi told the gathering that the Governing Council held meetings with the Management, Academic Board and the Staff Unions, as he says that these meetings the priorities and expectations of the Council were heavily discussed. 

As he says that of partial importance to the Council is the sustenance of high academic standards, prevalence of peace and harmony on campus, staff and students welfare and preservation of the good name of the Institution as he says that the Management and Academic Board have been charged to raise the ban of administration and scholarship in the College, as academic activities such as accreditation, research, exhibitions, contribution to knowledge through inaugural lectures and technological innovations must be vigorously pursued, as the deliberations and decision of the Academic Board must be very vibrant and qualitative, while matters such as examination malpractices and all forms of academic malfeasance must be heavily guarded against all time, and those pending should be disposed off expeditiously.  

Speaking to the uncommon crowds, the amiable, very friendly, courageous, dedicated and above all the charming mother of all mothers, Rector of Yaba College of Technology Dr. (Mrs.) Magaret Kudi Ladipo delivered her well crafted speech of 15-page. In her speech she says that she welcomes all and sundry to the 31^st Convocation Ceremony commemorating the 70^th Anniversary of the establishment of Yaba College of Technology, the cradle of Higher Education in Nigeria. 

She says that 31^st Convocation celebration marks yet another milestone in the historical trip, in fulfillment of their mandate and in keeping faith with the vision of the founding fathers. She says that it has indeed been a long walk and that they give thanks to God that they have nt looked back, but have kept the flag flying, as they have marched on, steadily and surely, contributing their quota to the development of the nation’s economy.  

The amiable Rector, Dr. (Mrs.) Ladipo in a lucid language told the unprecedented crowds that the 31^st Convocation Ceremony is for graduands of the 2015/2016 academic session with a total number of 9021 graduands, comprising of the Full-time and Part-time students, that at the Higher National Dipolma Full-time level, they have 64 Students who graduated with distinction, 716 with Upper credit while 1,1145 with Lower credit and 283 came out with Pass. 

More members of the college's principal officers at the event

The number one citizen of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. (Mrs.) Ladipo also says that at Higher National Diploma, Part-time level, they have 3 Students who made distinction, 86 with Upper credit, 192 with Lower credit and 71 with Pass. That at the National Diploma, Full-time level, the College has 102 Students who graduated with distinction, 751 with Upper credit, 1, 9991 with Lower credit and 1,290 with Pass. She says that all in all, 249 Students earned distinction, 2538 emerged with Upper credit, 4,330 came out with Lower credit and 1,094 obtained Pass grade.

She further informed the elitist crowds that the events marking this historical ceremony did begin on Thursday, October 12, 2017 with a Press Conference, this was followed by special Jumat Services at the College Mosque on Friday, October 13, 2017 and a Commendation Service was held at the College Chapel on Sunday, October 15, 2017 as the Anniversary national workshop organized by Yaba College of Technology alumni on Tuesday 17, October 2017 at the National Arts Theatre Iganmu, Lagos. 

The Convocation/Anniversary Lecture was held on Wednesday October 18, 2017. The topic was “Repositioning Science And Technological Education In Nigeria For Global Relevance” the lecture was delivered by an erudite scholar Dr. Emeka Eusebeus Epuh of the University of Lagos, while the man who chaired the event was Chief Henry Ojogho, the Executive Vice Chairman of Broron Oil and Gas Ltd. 

The Rector thanked Chief Ojogho uncommonly for his large heart of pledge donation of N10million at the Convocation Lecture and she informed the audience that the monies shall be applied for the rehabilitation of College roads.

In delivering her well crafted speech, she deftly outlined all the basic achievements her tenure has recorded. The list of her achievements is really, really endless and secondly time and space would dwarf us at the www.iconblazemagazineonline.blogspot.com.

However, despite the lack of space, Dr. (Mrs.) Ladipo really raised her voice in appreciating Mr. President for her appointment as Rector of Yaba College of Technology eight years ago. As she says that in the course of her administration, that the College has recorded improvement and increase in academic programmes, rapid development of physical and infrastructural facilities which has transformed the landscape of the College campus, acquisition of contemporary equipment for teaching and learning, computerization of administrative and academic processes staff and students welfare and collaborations with development partners amongst others. 

 She also paid tribute to the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Board for Technical Education, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the Alumni Association and of course her precious constituency the Yabatech Community for all their uncommon supports through the years.

The Rector also congratulated the graduands on the successful completion of their studies in the College as she urges them to rise up to the challenges and contribute their worthy streaks to the development of the country as the College has equipped all of them with the requisite, skills and knowledge to be entrepreneurs and employers of labour. She also congratulated the parents and guardians on the success of their children and wards.

In rounding off her speech she expressed appreciation to her colleagues from far and near who came to honour the College at the event. She specially paid homage to all the past Administrators of the College, Mr. G. A. Akinleye, Mr. G.M. Okufi, Late Dr. Philip O. Adegbile, Chief (Mrs.) Felicia A. Odugbesan, Dr. Olubunmi Owoso, and Mr. Okufi who attended the 31^st Convocation was specially singled out for honour. 

Yaba College of Technology the first and the greatest October – December 2017.