The management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic on Wednesday laid the foundation of the first skill-acquisition and vocational training centre in the school to enhance the technical skills of students in the polytechnic.
Commissioner for Education, Ogun State, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, who performed the ceremony in the polytechnic, said that he is thrilled that the management of the polytechnic deemed it fit to embark on such laudable project.
Arigbabu said that the project is in tandem with the vision of the Ogun state government led by Governor Dapo Abiodun in upskilling youths across the state with technical and vocational education.
His words, “I am thrilled that the type of training that is being planned here is in tandem with the trend of the world. We have internet, software laboratory, we have electronic resource room, research rooms, conference rooms, not forgetting the traditional hands-on training.
“It is in tandem with the vision of this administration led by Governor Dapo Abiodun. He is so keen on technical, vocational education and training such that we are working to revitalize our technical centres and colleges."
He said that the centre and its objective will go a long way to revitalize the economy of the state and by extension, the economy of Nigeria.
“The reason is to tell the students that going to technical colleges is not like sentencing a person to prison. It can help revitalize the economy of the state, and by extension, the economy of Nigeria."
He added, “Today we can hardly find good artisans to work with. Be it plumber, be it electricians. People have to go as far as Cotonou to hire good artisans to work for them. You flush your toilet in your master bedroom and the waste comes out in your bedroom. So for us to have good artisans, it is good for us to embark on projects like this. And for polytechnics, the focus of polytechnics is to actually develop this type of manpower that can meet the needs of the country, especially technology."
On his part, the Acting Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Adeoye Odedeji noted that the project is another feather in the cap of the polytechnic, adding that MAPOLY is being transformed into an institution for skill-acquisition.
“It is another feather in the cap of the polytechnic. We are gradually transforming this place into an institution where individuals will come to acquire one skill or the other where at the end of the day, they would not need to work for somebody. That is the environment we are creating,” he said.
The project which is sponsored by TETFund is scheduled to be completed in six months.
