Oluwatobi Odeyinka
The 34th matriculation ceremony of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta held on Thursday witnessed low turnout as virtually all admitted part time students of the institution refused to attend the ceremony.
MAPOLY Press club observed that less than ten students admitted for part time Programme in Higher National Diploma were present at the Otunba Gbenga Daniel auditorium for the matriculation.
Although some full time students were also absent at the ceremony, the part time students refused to show up, vindicating the sentiment of many that they are not bona fide students of the polytechnic.
The Polytechnic Lawyer, Barr. Olanrewaju Ojo, supervised the oath taking session of the ceremony, taking the full time students first.
Barr. Ojo was however disappointed when he called on the part time students to stand and swear the oath of studentship and just about five students stood.
Press club drew a blank when it approached the few part time students present as they claimed they have no explanation to the absence of their colleagues at the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the matriculation ceremony was dominated by female students as it was believed that more females were granted admission than their male counterparts.
The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota confirmed that 55% of the matriculating students are female.
She hailed parents for investing in the education of female children, saying such decision would reflect in the academic progress of generations to come.
She said, “Women rock; women constitute 55% of the matriculating students today and I am very happy about that.
“When you focus on educating women, you are liberating generations, because an educated woman would ensure that her children succeed in education.”
