By Mike Adebayo, Ado-Ekiti
The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti has reaffirmed its zero tolerance for all form of anti-social behaviours, such as; examination misconduct, cultism, sexual harassment, hooliganism, corruption, prostitution, gang sterism inappropriate dressing among others.
Rector of the Institution, Dr. Dayo Hephzibah Oladebeye made the emphasis at the Matriculation Ceremony for the 2020/2021 Academic Session held on Friday, 13th August, 2021 at the Sports Complex.
Dr. Oladebeye observed that the emphasis had become imperative because the Institution has been in the frontline of notable ;enviable, reliable and desirable Federal Tertiary Institutions which is capable of delivering and discharging optimum academic prowess in all spheres to the students and other knowledge seekers across the world.
He noted that the tall order standing of the Polytechnic has been evidenced in the quality of graduates produced by the Polytechnic since inception and the values this has added to the society at the world at large of which he (Dr. D.H. Oladebeye) is a testimony having emerged as the First Alumnus Rector with several outstanding awards within and outside the campus.
The Rector also emphasised that the Institution will not relent in its pursuit of Academic excellence, which has continued to be its watchword and focus in line with the Institution’s stated Vision, while also assuring that the Management will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the Institution is taken to the next level of advancement for the benefits of all.
He also pointed out that the Polytechnic’s personnel are renowned international scholars and highly motivated to give their best and reach based on the revised curricula provided by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) designed to impart them with requisite knowledge and skills, this he noted informed the decision of the NBTE a few years back in making the Polytechnic a model and reference point for other Institutions in entrepreneurship studies.
Dr. Oladebeye admonished the about ten thousand (10,000) fresh students to sit up, noting “that the distance between the matriculation ceremony and convocation is very wide, hence it is important that they make the journey end well by ensuring that they are regular in class, carry out assignments accordingly and by also shunning all deviant behaviours and other vices that can expose them to danger.”
The Rector also charged them to see their matriculation as an opportunity to aim and attain higher academic laurels and also equip themselves for a rewarding future as well as a challenge for them to live a morally upright life despite the pervading decay of the society.
He further tasked the matriculants to see their admission as a new phase that is most critical and challenging, which they can make or mar with their own actions or inactions, stressing that it is now left to them to jealously guide and guard this opportunity with care to enable them achieve the best and fulfill their destinies in life.
Dr. Oladebeye however noted that inspite of the dwindling resources, the Institution has put in place facilities and programmes in order to ensure that they have a smooth sojourn in the Institution, some of which includes a well equipped Digital Library, Sporting and Relaxation facilities, well equipped Health Centre for proper medical attention, best student Scholarship Award to encourage and instill hardwork and seriousness in students as well as Entrepreneurship programme, which is aimed at producing industry-compliant graduates and fulfilled entrepreneurs in line with the government’s policy of ensuring that graduates aspire to be job creators rather than job seeker, adding that it is compulsory for all students to pass all the entrepreneurship courses as a necessary condition for graduation.
He, therefore, cautioned them on embracing evil or any form of anti-social activities as the Management has put in place a vigilant security network to closely monitor and sniff out the bad eggs.
The Rector, however, admonished the about 10,000 ND I and HND I (Morning and Evening) fresh students “to protect their names and create a life-long reputation worthy of good ambassadors of the Institution and not forgetting that their future socio-economic status would be determined by what they are able to do with the opportunities placed at their disposal,” while also congratulating them and wishing them a fruitful academic journey.
Highlights of the Ceremony was the administration of Matriculation Oath on the fresh students by the Registrar, Mrs Kehinde Ekanem as well as the physical presentation of Award of Excellence and Cash Gifts to 65 Polytechnic scholars, who were the best students at their ND 1 and HND 2 levels in all departments at the end of the 2019/2020 Academic Session.