OGUN-BASED INSTITUTION TO PROVIDE WORK-STUDY FOR INDIGENT STUDENTS

Abiola Rufai

          Determined to encourage and make education more attractive to indigent students in the country, the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, is to commence a work-study programme that will give its students the opportunity to engage in light jobs while studying at the polytechnic. 

          The Rector of the institution, Dr. Mikhail Akinde revealed this during the 27th matriculation ceremony of the polytechnic in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of the State, noting that the initiative was in line with global practices.

          According to Akinde, "to assist indigent students, in line with global practices, we are committed to opening up work-study, and creating opportunities for light jobs while studying at the polytechnic. This starts immediately, as the Director of Student Affairs (DSA) led committee has submitted its reports, and it has been approved by the Academic Board and Polytechnic Management Committee for implementation".

          Congratulating the matriculating students, the Rector pointed out that, a total number of 8,165 students were given admission to study various courses at the five schools of the polytechnic, including Schools of Management Studies, Communication and Information Studies, Engineering Studies, Pure and Applied Studies, and School of Environmental Studies.

          Giving the breakdown, he added that 3,161 candidates were given admission into National Diploma (ND) Courses and 2,523 admitted into the school's various Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes, while 2,481 were admitted into the institution's part-time academic programmes.

           Dr. Akinde stated that the institution had keyed into Nigeria's 2050 agenda's strategies for innovation and enterprise as a means of unleashing the potential of young people, such as the establishment of Entrepreneurship Development and Skill Acquisition Centre (EDASAC), which gave students of the institution the opportunities to acquire skills and vocations in Aluminium work, Catering services, Website design, Bag making, Cell phone, Computer repairs, Block moulding and Interlocking stone making, among others.

          The rector advised the new intakes to be studious, saying, "as fresh students, it is expected that you will not just subject yourselves to the culture that has made the polytechnic attractive to you and your parents, you must be committed to your studies and fully justify your selection out of the lot that had sought admission in our noble institution, and your lawful participation in all institutional activities must be geared towards improving the enviable profile of the polytechnic".