Education Minister Urges Polytechnics In Nigeria To Take Active Interest In Vocation And Trades

…FPI Invents Technology To Solve Nation’s Farming And Industrial Problems, Convocates 3,028 Students
BY ABUSATAR HAMED & ABIOLA RUFAI

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu has implored Polytechnic institutions across the country to take active interest in the vocation and trades by seeking to assist in the formal training and retraining of artisans and tradesmen through the adoption of the National Vocation Qualifications Framework (NVOF) developed by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The minister who was represented by the Director of Tertiary Institution in the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Folorunso Ojo made this known during the 18th Convocation Ceremony of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, held at the convocation ground of the institution in Ilaro, headquarters of Ogun West.

His words; ‘‘the federal government was making all necessary investment, in both human and material resources, to ensure that Nigerian tertiary institutions were ranked among the league of global institutions, and efforts were being made through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and other funding sources to upgrade the nation’s institutions in the areas of academic and infrastructural development.’’
In his address, the Executive Governor of Ogun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun stated that his administration is committed to the growth and development of education in the state.

The Governor who was represented by his Chief Of Staff, Chief Tolu Odebiyi pointed out that his government would not relent at providing necessary infrastructure and conducive economic and learning environment for foreign investors and students across the state.
Senator Amosun while enjoining the graduands to think more of how to stand on their own by being job creators, rather than job seekers, urged them to be good ambassadors of the Polytechnic and the state wherever they may find themselves.
In his welcome address, the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Arc. (Dr) Olusegun Aluko, disclosed that in an efforts at finding solution to technological problem facing agriculture business, ‘‘the institution has invented technology that would solve problems and at the same time engender the growth and the development of farming and industries in Nigeria.’’
Arc. Aluko who said that the institution was aware of the need to innovate and link up with critical stakeholders in solving the nation’s problems, stated that the authority of the institution have challenged lecturers and the institution’s technologists to ensure that they were part of the solution finders to the country’s myriad of problems.
The Rector said, “I am glad to announce that this year, a number of inventions and fabrications have made it to the top and are being utilized as indigenous technology already on the farm and in industries.’’
According to Aluko, prominent among the invention include the fast track e-waste disposal device system invented by a lecturer in the Architectural Technology Department; fish smoking machine invented by Agricultural Engineering Department which is already in high demand within and outside Ilaro and electronic pigeon hole by the Electrical/Electronic Engineering Department.
‘‘Other inventions includes, mini power welder, mobile air-forced maize sheller, mobile petrol juice extractor, air-forced (gas/charcoal) smoking kiln, feeds extruder, groundnut dehauling machine among a host of others.
‘‘I would like to use this medium to call on the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, with whom we already have a robust and lasting engagement, to further utilize us by informing us of the challenges that their processes are having and particularly those that represent a significant proportion of their operating cost so that bright minds in our institution can design solutions to such”, Arc. Aluko said.
The breakdown of the graduands of the convocation this year revealed that 3,028 graduated at both HND and ND levels, out of which 171 made Distinction, 965 with Upper Credit, 1,394 Lower Credit, while 498 made Pass grades at the HND and ND levels.