The Mass Communication Class of ’87 of The Polytechnic, Ibadan on Thursday donated audiovisual equipment worth N1.2 million to the institution to enhance multimedia journalism training in the country.
Reports state that items donated included 49 inches Plasma TV,10 KV generator, Public Address System and a Projector with screen monitor.
Handling over the items, The Class Administrator, Mr Akinwale Odeyale, said the institution had impacted positively on them which inspired them to give back to their alma mater.
Odeyale said the desire to make learning easier for the students motivated the old students to tax one another so as to assist the department in some of the equipment that would make the students’ learning easier.
“What motivated us was the desire to give back to the school having graduated from the institution many years back.
“We feel the school has been good to us and we must look for ways to add value to the institution and impact positively on the students,” he said.
He called on the students to always aim higher and ensure they graduated with higher grades, adding that mass communication products remained a hot cake profession in Nigeria and beyond.
In a virtual goodwill message at the event, Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Waheed Odusile, commended the alumni for the gesture.
Odusile, former National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists and also member of the set, said that the donation would spur other old students to contribute their quota to the institution.
In his remark, the Head of Department (HOD), Mr Adunola Najeem, appreciated the Class of ’87 for the donation, saying that most of the equipment donated was what was lacking in the department.
Najeem said that the donated equipment would be useful to the students and help improve on the students learning ability practically and theoretically.
The HOD called on other sets to emulate Class of ’87, saying doing so would assist in acquiring most of the equipment the department was lacking.
He listed other needs of the department to include studio equipment such as TV monitors, TV and audio mixers, among others.
The President of Association of Students Communicators (ASCOM) of the institution, Mr Kehinde Ayanbode, thanked the Alumi for the donation,saying it would make learning easier for the students.
Ayanbode also urged the students to make proper use of the donated items.
Ealier, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Prof. Kazeem Adebiyi, said the donation would greatly reduce the burden of the institution, saying the trend nowadays was alumi donating to their institution.
“We appreciate and marvel by this donation and we are still asking for more, we want this set to bring more hope to the institution and God will bless and provide for you,” he said.
Among members of the delegation were the Deputy Corps Commander (Operations) Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Olalekan Morakinyo, Mr Akinlabi Bamidele, Managing Director, First Marketing, Mr Michael Fakoyode and Mrs Banke Jesse.
Others were Mr Adeyemi Brown, Mrs Folasade Efe, Baale of Laniba, Chief Olukunmi Laaniba, Mr Ademola Oyewusi, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, former Chief Press Secretary to Late Gov. Lam Adesina and Prince Wale Ojetimi, deputy editor-in-chief with NAN.