Technical education, key to national technological, industrial development — KwaraPoly Alumni President
By Saka Laaro, Ilorin
The Protem President, Kwara State Polytechnic Worldwide Alumni Association, Engineer Abu Salami, has said that technical education is key to national technological and industrial development.
He also said it helps graduates to be self-reliant and even become employers of labour.
He spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital during the 50th anniversary of the institution and its Alumni Association; with the theme: ‘Riasing the bar for greatness and excellence.’
The anniversary featured a novelty football match, a road show, a movie premier by the Mass Communication Department of the institution, a 50th anniversary day celebration, a foundation laying of the Alumni secretariat/village, fundraising and awards.
Salami stated that Kwara State Polytechnic Worldwide Alumni Association has contributed to the growth and development of Kwara State Polytechnic.
He said, “The institution has continuously evolved over the year, keeping pace with the changing times and needs of society and providing opportunities for students to excel in various fields of study.
“As we reflect on the past 50 years of the Kwara State Polytechnic, we must recognise the importance of nurturing the next generation of leaders and innovators.
“The Alumni Association has an important role to play in this regard and we are committed to supporting the Polytechnic in its efforts to provide quality education and training to students.
“I am delighted to share with you some of the recent achievements of the Kwara State Polytechnic Worldwide Alumni Association since our inauguration in September 2022. Over the last few months, we have made significant strides in the growth and development of our association. We successfully registered our association with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), which has given us legal recognition as a formal entity. This milestone has opened up new opportunities for us to engage with the Polytechnic and the wider community and we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.
“Additionally, we have opened a bank account for the Alumni Association, which will enable us to manage our finances more effectively and transparently. This will also enable us to support our alma mater and students in more tangible ways.
“During the last convocation, we had the privilege of awarding a cash prize to outstanding students who had excelled in their studies. This is just one of the many ways in which we are committed to recognising and encouraging academic excellence among students at the Polytechnic.”
The Rector of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Kwara State, Dr Abdul Jimoh Muhammed, said KwaraPoly has continued to make giant strides in the educational and technological development of Nigeria.
He said, “It is a well-known fact that Kwara State Polytechnic formally started as a College of Technology in 1973, on a temporary site which formerly housed the Institute of Technology of the institution, a site which now shares a boundary with the College of Health Science of the University of Ilorin. It started with the School of Basic Studies, which offered Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, English, Religious Studies, Geography and History, as well as registered candidates for Advanced Level Cambridge GCE Examinations in these subjects.
“The Polytechnic initially had 110 students, 11 academic staff and 3 senior administrative staff. The philosophy on which the institution was established includes: To combine the commercial production of goods and services with training. Train a new generation of technicians and technologists, whose distinctive attributes would be self-reliance and preparedness to set up their own business, either individually or in cooperative ventures.
“To promote and accelerate the economic development of Kwara State as a component of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ipso facto, the economy of the country. To ensure adequate representation for Kwara in the Nigerian institutions of higher learning by providing cheaply and efficiently a centre where students can be given the best pre-varsity education and to serve as a centre of educational excellence.
He added, “The institution now has six academic institutes and four centres: Institutes of Applied Sciences (IAS), Institute of Environmental Studies (IES); Institute of Finance and Management Studies (IFMS); Institute of General Studies (IGS); Institute of Information and Communication Technology (IICT); Institute of Technology (IOT); Centre for Open Distance and Flexible E-Learning (ODFEL); Centre for Continuing Education (CCE); Centre for Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB); and Entrepreneurship Development Center (EDC) which was established with the sole aim of exposing the students to practical aspects of their course of study in order to make them job creators after graduation.”
The Guest Speaker, Otunba Olusola Adekanola, spoke on post retirement lifestyle and investment options; being the supplement for Alumni associations to raise the bar for greatness and excellence.
He said, “Human beings have achieved greatness in every area of human endeavours, implying that greatness is not something that is unattainable. People of all nations have achieved greatness in several fields.
“Greatness is therefore not some illusory aspiration outside the reach of normal people, but something that is attainable and is achieved every day by several people. Which brings us to the question: what does it take to be great? First, some clarifications: you do not need a title or be appointed into a position to be great.”
