The Ogun State Government has advised graduates and professionals in Transport Planning and Management to view their roles as pivotal to national development, as the sector is essential to the country’s economic growth.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Olugbenga Dairo, gave counsel on Wednesday in his lecture, titled “The Role of Young Professionals in Sustainable Transport Development”, to members of the National Association of Transportation Planning and Management Students (NATPAMS) at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro.
He emphasised that students have significant roles to play in several areas, including Transport Policy and Planning, Operations Planning and Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Regulatory and Institutional Arrangements, Transport Economics, and Research and Development.
Dairo said, “There is a difference between a young graduate and a young professional. After graduation, a period must be devoted to gaining experience in the profession to achieve certification by the approved regulator, CIOTA (Chartered Institute of Transport Administration). It is only after successful registration that one can be classified as a professional.”
The Commissioner further noted that the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration is pleased with the evolving partnership between the state government and the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro. He stated that the Ministry has provided work experience and sector exposure to numerous students from the institution through the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).
“It is the responsibility of the Ogun State Ministry of Transportation to grow and develop the transport sector, recognising its vital role in socio-economic development. A key component of this responsibility is to attract capable and passionate young people—such as the students in the Transport Planning and Management Department—to the various disciplines of the transportation profession, and to promote innovation, particularly methods tailored to the realities of Ogun State, the South-West region, and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
In his remarks, Dr. Mukail Akinde, Rector of the Polytechnic, expressed appreciation for the government’s support and appealed for further assistance in developing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations within the Polytechnic environment to aid in the effective and efficient training of students in the required technical knowledge.
He noted that the institution has already trained professionals who have developed tricycles for internal use within the campus.
Also speaking, the Head of Department of Transportation Planning and Management, Dr. Taiwo Ajala, stated that the department has integrated driving, management, and planning into the curriculum to help reduce road accidents and improve road safety.
In her welcome address, the NATPAMS President, Mariam Akinbolu, expressed delight at the presence of the Commissioner, whom she described as a source of inspiration. She also appreciated the Head of Department and the Rector for fostering an environment that supports the students’ aspirations.
