The Chairman, Governing Council, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has said that the polytechnic is prepared for its take-off as a
university.
Fagbemi disclosed that in 2007, the Federal Government, through the Federal Executive Council, approved the conversion of the polytechnic to a City University of Technology.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Education constituted an implementation committee to firm up the conversion but a decade down the line, that approval had yet to be
implemented.
The governing council chairman stated this during the polytechnic’s 32nd convocation ceremony held
recently.
Fagbemi said, “This college boasts of first class facilities for learning and research, good quality lecturers with large numbers of PhD holders, laboratories and a conducive environment that can deal with university status and education.
“It is, therefore, our ardent prayer that government takes a deliberate step to actualise this approval in the interest of the nation and the
college.”
Acknowledging government’s support on funding, Fagbemi said education ought to take the greatest percentage of the budget of the country “and of this, the lion share should go to the College of Technology for an improved education on
technology.”
The erudite lawyer added that in this 21st Century, it could not be overemphasised that the world had given technology a place of pride, “hence the need to inject more funds into educational institutions like ours, a foremost college of technology and a perfect paradigm of combination of the realities of the objectives of higher learning institutions at this time and
age.”
Fagbemi also used the opportunity to thank the Tertiary Education Trust Fund for being an indispensable partner of the college with respect to infrastructural and human capital development through sponsorship of graduate
programmes, research, conferences and library development, which had led to development in the
college.
Congratulating the graduates, the chairman said the ceremony marked the beginning of their journey on their different career paths and “therefore, I urge you to formulate your ideas of the future and set in motion those factors that will make them achievable.”
Earlier in his speech, the Rector of the college, Engr. Obafemi Omokungbe, said that in keeping faith with the vision of the founding fathers, the college had continued to stand tall as the premier tertiary institution in
Nigeria.
“Inspite of this, the college management identified the need to reposition the college for the challenges ahead in keeping with the college’s vision and mission and a four-year strategic plan as the major thrust for action, which include academic enhancement and development, upgrading and maintenance of existing structures, physical and infrastructural development of Epe Campus, staff and students welfare and improvement of Internally Generated Revenue base for the college,” he
said.
On academics, the rector said in its drive to return speedily to a normal calendar, the Academic Board had approved a 3- year academic calendar, which was being faithfully
implemented.
Urging the graduates to rise to the challenges in the country, Omokungbe told them to contribute their worthy bit to national
development.
“Yaba College of Technology has trained and equipped you with requisite skills and knowledge to do this; it is my sincere prayer that you will all be useful members of the society and a pride to your alma mater having been counted as worthy in character and knowledge for the award of college
diploma,” he
added.
A total of 7,170 graduated at the convocation with 97 graduating in the Higher National Diploma category with distinction, while
160 others graduated with distinction at the National Diploma
category.
