COURTESIES
It is indeed a great honor and privilege for me to extend to you all, the very warm welcome of the entire Polytechnic Community on this joyous occasion of the 26th convocation ceremony of Kwara State Polytechnic.
On behalf of the Management, Staff and Students of this reputable Institution, I heartily welcome the Visitor and the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRasaq AbdulRahman to the Polytechnic on this special occasion in spite of his extremely tight schedule. Sir, we felt highly honoured by your dignified and prestigious presence which is an incontrovertible proof of your love for us and commitment to the development of this Institution. We deeply appreciate this very kind disposition toward us.
It is imperative to publicly express the fact that we in the Polytechnic have taken note, with very keen interest and admiration your activities since you took on the mantle of leadership of the State and we are convinced that Kwara State has indeed been blessed with a Governor of the people.
Our special gratitude also goes to the speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Engr. Umar Yakubu Danladi, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Mamman Saba Jibril, the Head of Service, Mrs. Susan Modupe Oluwole, the Chief of Staff Government House, Alhaji Aminu Adisa Logun, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Musa Dasuki for your restless efforts in settling for nothing other than the best for this citadel of learning. It is also a great pleasure to extend our warmest greeting of welfare to the Guest Speaker at the convocation lecture yesterday, an erudite scholar, Prof. O. S. Adegboye.
We recognize the dignified and prestigious presence of our revered traditional rulers, beginning with the Chairman, Kwara State Traditional Council, His Eminence, the Emir of Ilorin, Alh. Dr. Ibrahim Zulukarnaini Gambari, CFR, and other royal fathers. We welcome you specially and warmly into our midst. May your reign continue to be peaceful and blissful.
It is my great pleasure and privilege to welcome all our invited guests, parents, guardians, well-wishers and distinguished ladies and gentlemen to the Polytechnic, most importantly, our graduands who have waited patiently for today’s event and distinguished ladies and gentlemen. It is my prayer that we will enjoy good health and witness more joyous occasions such as this for many more years to come.
A REVIEW OF MY PERIOD AS THE RECTOR
Your Excellency sir, following my appointment as the Rector, I and other Management staff of the institution have worked assiduously, conscientiously and consistently to lift up and sustain the banner and glory of this citadel of learning.
Sir, it is with all sense of humility and responsibility that I like to highlight the following facts:-
ADHERENCE TO REGULAR PAYMENT OF SALARY
I have met with both Principal Officers and the Management team of the Polytechnic and we have resolved to maintain the status quo of payment of staff salaries on or before the 25th day of every month. The Polytechnic does not owe any of its staff. This has been possible through sacrifices, prudent management of resources and re-ordering of priorities as it was the practice during the tenure of my predecessors.
Meanwhile, apart from the existing rooms of improving our Internally Generated Revenue, we have also decided to expand it through running of affiliation degree programmes.
INDUSTRIAL COLLABORATION
It is no longer new that the Polytechnic engages her staffers on Industrial Training {SITCOM) during long vacation to impart their experiences on new techniques and innovations with the Students.Also, plans are in top gear to have Industrial collaboration with Federal Institute of Industrial Research in Ikorodu.
SUSTENANCE OF PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE ON THE CAMPUS
The Polytechnic has been able to sustain existing peace on the campuses of the Polytechnic. The 2018/2019 academic session successfully came to an end on the 30th September, 2019, without any conflict, friction, disturbance from Students, Staff or the neighbouring villages, hence the Management partnered with security agencies and the neighbouring communities to adequately beef up the security of the Polytechnic environment. These efforts have resulted in a cult-free Polytechnic.
STAFF WELFARE
To have maximum productivity and efficient service delivery from staff, attention was paid to their training through TETFUND sponsorship. More than one third of the Polytechnic Staff have benefited from this programme. Also, 2017 promotion was released for staff while preparation for the 2018 promotion exercise is in progress. The Management has also set up a Committee to look into the case of staff who had acquired additional qualifications to ensure their proper placement.
SECURITY
The Polytechnic enjoys the support of the State Government in its policy of zero tolerance for cultism and other social vices. To achieve this, the Management partnered with security agencies and the neighbouring communities to adequately beef up the security of the Polytechnic environment. These efforts have resulted in a cult-free Polytechnic for over five years running.
TETFUND PROJECT
The followings were achieved through the intervention of TETFUND.
v Construction of IOT Complex (on-going).
v Lecture Rooms.
v Polytechnic Auditorium.
v Mini stadium.
v Water production factory.
v Construction of IICT (on-going).
v Conference/Seminar sponsorship for staff etc.
v Water quality Laboratory
v Mechatronic workshop
v Construction of Nutrition and Dietetics building
NIPOGA
The Polytechnic actively and successfully participated in the 19th NIPOGA Games at the Federal Polytechnic Nassarawa. Kwara State Polytechnic delegates won 2 Gold, 3 silver and 3 Bronze medals at the event. As the proposed host of the 20th Edition of the Game, the National Executive Committee of NIPOGA recently decorated the Rector as President in preparation for the hosting of 2019 NIPOGA games. The Polytechnic will host NIPOGA Games between 4th and 14th December, 2019. We therefore, implore you to give us maximum support in the coverage. Other areas of support that will make the hosting a hitch-free and successful programme will be highly appreciated.
CHALLENGES
Your Excellency sir, kindly permit me to use this occasion to bother you with some of the problems needing your attention. While we deeply appreciate what your amiable, people-oriented and education loving administration has done for the State in general in the area of education, we will appreciate your Excellency to use your dynamic style as a goal- getter to help find lasting solution to the following challenges confronting the Institution.
FUNDING
Like any other tertiary Institution, the Polytechnic has the problem of funding. However, through prudence management of limited financial resources we have been able to cope with prompt payment of Staff salaries and other recurrent expenses. Sir, we shall appreciate if our monthly subvention is kindly restored.
CAMPUS ROADS AND DRAINAGES
These are very bad especially during the raining season. It will be deeply appreciated sir if some of the roads on the campus are tarred, proper drainage provided with appropriate sidewalk along the roads.
STUDENTS ACCOMMODATION
We will appreciate the completion of blocks of students’ hostels to accommodate all our students on the campus. Doing this will aid the students’ academic activities and refrain students from co-habiting of opposite sex. It will also help generate income for the Polytechnic.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the Polytechnic has opened up rooms for investors to come and partner with us on the arrangement of Build Operate and Transfer (BOT). Besides, there is room also for any investor who cares to rehabilitate the existing ones on ground.
AGEING STRUCTURES
Most of the buildings in the Polytechnic are very old; as old as the institution itself. Although renovation takes place from time to time, but lack of adequate fund makes it difficult to carry out comprehensive renovation and rehabilitation of the obsolete structures.
ACCREDITATION OF PROGRAMMES
Quite a huge sum of money running into millions of Naira is needed for accreditation or re-accreditation of its National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programmes.
The Team from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) had always insisted on meeting the minimum requirements in order to sail through each accreditation exercise. Meeting this financial requirement is always a serious challenge to the institution. The Polytechnic will appreciate if your administration can come to the aid of the Polytechnic in this regard.
SECURITY
The Management had been able to maintain peace over the years with the assistance of security personnel such as the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Vigilante etc. However, huge sum of money is required to maintain this relative peace. I therefore appeal to you to use your good office to assist us in this regard.
CHARGE TO GRADUANDS
May I use this medium to remind the graduands that the Polytechnic is your Alma Mata. You must never forget it in appreciation of what it has made you to become in life. In all your engagements, let the cardinal principle of fear of God, self-reliance and preparedness to be self employed be your watch-word. You must also uphold the good name of your Alma Mata and enhance its enviable image wherever you are, and in whatever you do.
Always remember that the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma Certificate in your possession are very precious. They are confirmation that you have proved yourselves worthy in character and learning to earn them. Therefore, you must continue to be disciplined and responsible citizens of the country wherever you are. You should remain good and exemplary ambassadors of this noble institution which has imparted so much into you morally, emotionally and intellectually. You are also enjoined to enhance your capacity either in education or in entrepreneurship or both.
My prayer for you is that may you will continue to be a source of pride and joy not only to your family, but also to this Polytechnic, Kwara State and Nigeria at large. I wish you God’s guidance in all your future endeavours.
APPRECIATIONS
Your Excellency, I am indeed grateful for your passion for quality and sjustice in approving my appointment as Rector of this great Polytechnic,
may Allah ease your tasks, may He continue to guard your steps in life. I also want to seize this opportunity to express publicly my profound gratitude to all those who have contributed towards the smooth operations of the Polytechnic, I therefore appreciate you all and commend your good deeds which are worthy of emulation.
Thank you and God bless.