Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and a philanthropist, Alhaji Ibrahim Egungbohun, on Friday, called on well-meaning Nigerians to partner with the government in uplifting polytechnics education for a better technological advancement.
With specific emphasis on sponsoring results of researches, making funds available for mass production and uptake of inventions, Abiodun and Egungbohun called for more funding of technology-based education in the country in order to entrench the needed path for the nation’s industrial growth.
The duo made the call while speaking at the 6th combined convocation ceremony of the Ogun State Institute of Technology (OGITECH), Igbesa, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Council where the governor unveiled self-made electric cars and drones as part of the innovations and breakthroughs produced by the Engineering Department of the institution.
Represented by his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the governor explained that his administration recognises that quality education and innovation are critical to sustainable development in today’s rapidly evolving world, hence his administration remains committed to delivering high quality education that would meet global standards.
Announcing a gift of N2 million each to three best graduating students of the institution for the 2021/2022, 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions, Abiodun declared that institutions such as OGITECH plays a crucial role in producing skilled workforce that would help in driving industrial growth, economic development and national progress.
Speaking with newsmen after being conferred with the fellowship award of the institution, Egungbohun called on the government at all levels to continue to make vocational and technical education more attractive to youths in order for the country to meet up with the global industrial challenges.
Egungbohun, represented by his wife, maintained that making technological and vocational education more enticing to Nigerian youths will go a long way at solving the challenges of unemployment as well as creating the needed path for the nation’s industrial growth.
Emphasising that the government alone cannot fund education, Egungbohun, however, challenged others in the society to adopt a school in the state and make a meaningful impact in such a school.
He also implored corporate organisations to support polytechnics in providing funding for mass production of the school’s newly unveiled electric vehicle towards boosting the country’s improving economy.
In his convocation lecture tagged, ‘Technological Education and the Realities of the Nigerian Industrial Advancement’, the guest lecturer, Prof. Ramon Bello, said the nature of the ongoing industrial revolution in the world would positively influence the Nigerian industrial development.
Bello, however, stated that efforts should be placed on the training of more technologically inclined students that would bring about the desired charges for our local tech advancement.
