Ekiti House of Assembly has pledged its support toward the upgrade of College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ijero-Ekiti, to a full-fledged polytechnic.
The Chairman, House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Mr Jacob Awoniyi, made the pledge on Thursday during the visit of his committee to the management of the institution in Ijero-Ekiti.
Awoniyi also reaffirmed the assembly’s commitment to improved health education through the encouragement of training of professionals and competent health providers in all the health-related institutions in the state.
He stated that the committee would not shy away from its responsibility of conducting oversight functions in the state-owned institutions.
The lawmaker said that the visit to the school, which he described as one of the oldest state-owned institutions, was to assess the level of development and the availability of facilities that would enhance the smooth take-off of the proposed polytechnic.
He urged the management to increase its commitment to the upgrade of the institution to a world-class polytechnic of academic excellence in the state.
The chairman congratulated the acting provost, Mrs Iyabo Oladapo, and the management team on the proposed upgrade of the college which, he said, would commence operation soonest.
He pledged the committee’s necessary legislative support to the institution for its smooth take-off through enactment of relevant laws that would facilitate its rapid growth and development within the shortest time.
The lawmaker urged the provost and the management staff members to make a comprehensive report of their income and expenditures available to the committee before the appropriation time.
This, he said, would enable the committee to know how to proffer solutions to the financial challenges that might impede the development of the new institution.
In her response, the acting provost commended Gov. Biodun Oyebanji for his magnanimity and his administration’s giant strides in the education sector in the state, with particular reference to the school.
Oladapo, who described the institution as a training ground for middle-level health providers, also commended the committee on for the visit.
She reiterated the roles played by the chairman of the institution’s governing council, Dr Femi Thomas, and the senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele.
News Men report that Awoniyi and other members of the committee, Messrs Babatunde Oke and Femi Fatunla, were conducted round the school facilities by the acting provost and management staff members.