The Rector of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Mr. Samuel Sogunro, has disclosed that the polytechnic is developing human capital to realise the transformation of the institution into a university.
He stated this while announcing the programme slated for the institution’s 40th anniversary at a press conference in Lagos.
According to him, the upgrading would not totally erase the institution’s polytechnic status so that old programmes would still be on side by side with the new programmes to be run by the university.
He added that the upgrading would be different from that of the normal university that is run in the country.
“It is quite different from what we have in the country now. This will be unique in Nigeria because we are going to run technical education alongside university education and this, when achieved, can rank us among the best in the world,” he said.
To achieve the aim of a polytechnic/ university status, Sogunro said the alumni and staff were being carried along and very soon the objective would be achieved.
On academics, the rector said the Lagos State Government under the leadership of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode gave adequate funding to the polytechnic towards the success of the 2018 accreditation of 66 of its programmes.
“The Academic Board has also approved the commencement of General Agriculture for all students at all levels in the Polytechnic; this is in effect to mobilise our students for the realisation of mass production of agricultural produce, poultry and fish farming,” he disclosed.
According to him, this is to encourage food security and ensure that the institution is able to produce food for the neighbouring communities.
The rector said it was obvious that with the provision of hostel accommodation the performance would be much better than what was being witnessed now.
He added that the state was shifting ground to now allow hostel accommodation in the institution and “hopefully before the end of this administration, student hostel accommodation will come to fruition.”
Listing the programmes for the anniversary, Sogunro said the 40th anniversary public lecture/exhibition would hold on Tuesday, 20th at the campus while the grand finale, a day to celebrate long serving staff of the polytechnic, is slated for Thursday, 22nd November, 2018 at the convocation ground of the institution at 10am.
The lecture entitled: “Repositioning Education for Technological Development and Food Security” is to be delivered by the Chairman Heirs Holdings and Founder Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu.
