MAPOLY Ready To Award Degree Certificate Across All Departments

BY Fasilat Oluwuyi

Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta is set to award the Bachelor of Technology(B.Tech) Degree Certificate for all programmes across the various departments in the institution.

The Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Joseph Odemuyiwa disclosed this while speaking with Press Club MAPOLY.

Recall that, Odemuyiwa told newsmen last week that the institution is set to award Bachelor of Technology Certificate to those in Engineering programmes.

The Special Adviser however told PCM the Polytechnic has been asked to also put up courses for degree programmes across all the departments in the institution.

"We have asked the management to put up courses for the programmes across departments we just held an emergency meeting with them last week that they should call an emergency academic board meeting to consider that and possibly the next academic session."

Odemuyiwa noted the award of the degree certificate will not be in affiliation with any University adding that the polytechnic law permits it to award degree certificate.

"Our target will be higher National Diploma and National Diploma graduates then we want to look at other polytechnic graduates across the nation.

When asked if the present students will get the Bachelor of Technology Certificate, Odemuyiwa said they will not get the certificate because they were not admitted for the programme.

" The present HND Students will not get the certificate they can’t transmit into that because they were not admitted for Bachelor of Technology, they were admitted for the Higher National Diploma Programme."

Odemuyiwa stated that the ND and HND programme will not be cancelled saying the institution will have both ND, HND seprated from the degree programme.

"It is not that we are cancelling the Higher National Diploma programme so they will go together just diploma.The school is going to have both Higher National Diploma and National Diploma seperated and degree.

"It is not going to be in affiliation with any University. The law of the polytechnic permits it to award degree. By the law that establish the polytechnic it should be a degree awarding institution on its own.

"Moshood Abiola Polytechnic will not operate outside the law that establish it, it will operate within the law that establish it.

Odemuyiwa further stated machinery has been put in place to commence the degree programme adding that it will kick start next academic session.

"We are processing the next academic session as COVID-19 has disrupted the whole system now. But let me say as soon as possible but machinery have been set in motion to start the programme."

Corroborating Odemuyiwa, the Head Public Relations and Protocol of the Polytechnic
Mr. Yemi Ajibola also stated the Polytechnic is ready to award degree certificate not only in Engineering programmes but across all departments.

"MAPOLY has it’s blue print to award Bachelor of Technology Certificate. We have our blue print to award B.Tech not only in engineering departments like accountancy, computer Education, Mass Communication plus other courses in science where we think we have strong opportunities."

The PRO told PCM the Polytechnic would have started awarding degree certificate a long time but was halted by the crises that rocked the institution.

He lamented that the crises has been a serious setback on the Polytechnic’s academic activities.

Ajibola said "Any moment from now when the National Board For Technical Education(NBTE) will come and visit the Polytechnic, the award of degree certificate is part of what NBTE will look at.

"Even before now the polytechnic has gotten the templates to award degree not only in engineering but in some courses that we have advantages like accountancy

"In Mass Communication, in Architecture and others where we have comparative advantage. I know MAPOLY is ready to award B-Tech.

" With the Government coming up with the award of B.Tech for students. I think it is making the journey faster than we thought."

Ajibola also said the award of the degree certificate will guide against the HND and BSC discrimination urging students to jump at the opportunity.

" Students should jump at the opportunity to just be more studious and understand it’s an opportunity and they should guide it jealously. With the degree certificate discrimination will not be there any longer. The issue of HND/ BSC will have been taken away."

He however called on the NBTE to increase the Polytechnic’s carrying capacity to admit more students so as not to limit students from getting the opportunity.