Rector applauds Tinubu, Yayi over Ilaro Poly upgrade to varsity

The Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, Mukail Akinde, has applauded President Bola Tinubu for his committed interest in reviving the hope of Nigerians through qualitative education capable of empowering the young ones for a more prosperous future.

The Rector said that the news of the upgrading of the polytechnic to a university of technology has thrown both the management and the staff, as well as the student population of over 21,000, and even the people of Ilaro, the host community, into wild jubilation.

Akinde disclosed this on Thursday while speaking to journalists over the elevation of the 46-year-old polytechnic to a University of Technology.

Tinubu on Wednesday was said to have signed into law the bill establishing the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro thereby upgrading the existing Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro to a full-fledged university.

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio had disclosed this on Wednesday, lauding Tinubu for such a landmark decision.

Akpabio had also congratulated Senator Olamilekan Adeola, the sponsor of the bill, and the people of Ogun West and Ogun State at large.

Addressing journalists on the development on Thursday, Akinde said that he had thought that the pursuit of seeking to elevate the polytechnic to university of technology had gone with the wind.

Akinde stated that the good news however filtered in on Wednesday that the heartfelt cry of the students, the staff and management as well as that of the host community of the polytechnic established in 1979 had been heard and answered.

The Rector stated that the polytechnic would remain eternally grateful to the Senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Adeola fondly called Yayi, who had been sponsoring the bill for the upgrading of the Polytechnic to university since 2021.

He said, “The journey actually started on April 22nd 2021 when the first presentation seeking for the upgrading of the Polytechnic into university of technology was made to the national assembly during the administration of my predecessor, Dr Segun Aluko who was the Rector then.

“One of our former Rectors, Dr Raheem Oloyo made the presentation to the national assembly.

“We were not successful with the presentation made in 2021 during the administration of President Muhammad Buhari.”