BY AKINWALE ABOLUWADE, IBADAN
The Polytechnic, Ibadan has begun the construction of a 72-room Seyi Makinde Office Complex to boost staff welfare, higher productivity and accreditation of courses for the institution.
The turning of the sod, held on Monday, drew officials of the state government, governing council members of the school, the project construction team, students and other stakeholders to the institution.
While describing the development as epochal, the Chairman, Governing Council of the polytechnic, Prof. Kunle Akinyemi, said, it was the first time such a massive project, aimed at giving maximum comfort to lecturers of the institution, was embarked upon.
Akinyemi said, “This is a very special day, we rejoice and we are happy in it. I am happy to see the bulldozer work on the site to pave the way for the construction. It is well that ends well; when the construction of the complex is completed, it would bring convenience and inspire the lecturers to do more.
“This is one of our achievements. For this star-studded governing council, this is going to be one of the remarkable achievements for us. Taking care of staff and their office accommodation is very important and symbolic. How can staff be squatting with one another? By the provision of this type of office complex, staff would be free to run their affairs in their offices. This will boost academic performance of the students.
“One of the saving grace we will have is if the governor of each state allocate more money to education. If more money is allocated, they would be able to provide what is needed and the environment for learning would be conducive.”
The Rector, Prof. Kazeem Adebiyi, expressed gratitude to the state government and the governing board of the school for their support, saying that the project would also help to fast track accreditation of courses by the National Board for Technical Education.
He said, “This is the first of its kind to my knowledge. The project has provision for standard 72 offices for chief lectures. The project is to solve the problem of offices to lecturers. This is one of the requirements for accreditation. To get accreditation, you need adequate offices for members of staff. That was why we conceived the idea and approached the government. They supported the idea through adequate funding.
“The cost of the building is N458million. The project is expected to be completed within 36 weeks; that is about three months.”
Adeola Ademuyiwa, representative of Rahmon Abiodun-Raheem, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, lauded the initiative of the institution’s management towards improving the welfare of its staff.
Ademuyiwa, who is Deputy Director in charge of Higher Education, described the development as the beginning of greater things to happen in the institution.
Those who were present on the occasion include Olori Moji Adeyemi, wife to the Alaafia of Oyo; Registrar of the institution, Modupe Fawale; Jide Ojolowo, members of the Governing Council of the institution, deans of faculties and heads of departments.
