Poly Ibadan graduates 3,650

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has charged The Polytechnic, Ibadan (TPI) to continue to raise the bar of academic excellence as it graduated 3,650 students on Friday.

At its 39th convocation ceremony, the governor said the state depended on TPI to produce manpower in technical and vocational education for its development.

Makinde, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, charged the institution with developing renewable alternative energy to solve its power challenge.

He tasked the school to develop blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, robotics and data science to solve other challenges facing the institution.

“I want to commend you for ensuring peace reigns on campus, as there has been no riot or strike by the students.

“However, lecturers are still going on strike, which needs to be addressed,” Makinde said.

Makinde said that his administration would soon appoint governing councils to institutions without one.

In his capacity as the state Commissioner for Education, Adelabu charged the graduates to use their knowledge to contribute significantly to the state’s development.

The Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, represented by Mrs Yemi Ojo, the Inspector General of Education, said civil servants’ welfare would be improved to enhance productivity.

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Meanwhile, the acting Rector, Dr Taiwo Lasisi, said the institution’s certificates were awarded based on academic performance and good character.

Lasisi said some of the institution’s achievements include fostering peaceful interaction among students, staff, unions and neighbouring communities.

“Others include prioritising staff training and retraining to improve institutional capacity through study leave, attendance at workshops and organising seminars,” he said.

He identified the lack of reliable water supply due to infrastructural decay of the piping system and security challenges due to porous campus boundaries as some of the institution’s challenges.

According to Lasisi, other issues with the school are deteriorating infrastructure, including poor road networks, and industrial actions leading to disruption of academic activities, among others.

He commended the state governor for his support, saying it had led to the institution’s numerous achievements.

In her valedictory speech, the overall best student, Yemisi Shonde, from the Department of Microbiology, appreciated the support of the institution, parents and relatives for her success.

She pledged on behalf of her colleagues to be good ambassadors of the institution and carry on with the values acquired from the school.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 1,669 students graduated from the Faculty of Business and Communications, 571 from the Faculty of Science, and 574 from the Faculty of Engineering.

The Faculty of Environmental Studies graduated 333 students, while 503 students graduated from the Faculty of Financial Studies.