The premier tertiary institution in Kwara State- Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin was established 50 years ago. The institution was established in 1973 by the then military governor of the state, the late Brigadier General Lasisi Bamigboye.
The polytechnic’s management and its alumni last week rolled out the drums to celebrate the institution’s achievements in the last five decades.
The week- long celebration featured special prayer session, lecture, foundation laying of Alumni Village and awards night where 50 eminent Nigerians were honoured for their contributions to the growth and development of the polytechnic.
But, one issue that dominated talks during the week- long event was infrastructural development.
The rector of the polytechnic, Dr Abdul Jimoh Muhammad, who was elated about the progress so far made by the institution in providing technical man- power for the country and in the area of academic excellence, however, lamented the institution’s obsolute structures.
Muhammad bared his mind during the anniversary lecture held at the Admiral Mohammed Alabi Lawal Auditorium located within the institution’s campus.
LEADERSHIP Weekend noted that except for the TetFund intervention projects, most of the structures in the polytechnic are indeed obsolete and as old as the institution.
Perhaps, it was in realisation of the above that the institution’s alumni association last Thursday laid the foundation of an alumni village billed to be constructed in two phases. The project will gulp the sum of N150m, LEADERSHIP Weekend learnt.
The first phase of the project which will contain a conference hall and guest houses will gulp N29m, the protem president of the association, Engr Abu Salami disclosed.
He said they are putting up the alumni village to ensure the security of the institution’s guests and as well generate funds for the alumni association.
Speaking during a lecture organised to mark the institution’s 50th anniversary, the recor said:” Many of the buildings are very old, as old as the institution itself. Although, renovation takes place from time to time, lack of sufficient funds make it difficult to carry out a complete and comprehensive renovation and rehabilitation of the obsolete structure.”
He, therefore, called on the alumni of the institution and public spirited individuals to come to the aid of the institution in funding the renovation of the old structures.
Muhammad also said that the management has spent huge amount of money in partnering with security agencies to forestal the possible breach of peace in the campus, owning to the porosity of the campus.
He listed the achievements of the polytechnic to include regular salary payment, construction of a state of the art diagnostic centre, regular water supply, establishment of bakery, bottle/ sachet water factories; provision of wi-fi for internet facility, acquisition of a radio license and the establishment of a micro- finance bank, amongst others.
He thanked the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his support for the institution, especially in getting the institution’s courses accredited, adding that,” today, Kwara State Polytechnic has fully accredited HND programme in Mass Communication.”
The rector, who said that the polytechnic had grown in size and status over the years, added that it had produced thousands of people for the growth of the nation’s economy.
The guest lecturer, a taxation expert, Otunba Olusola Adekanola spoke on the topic” Raising the Bar for Greatness and Excellence.
Adekanola who praised the alumni of Kwara State Polytechnic for their interest in the growth and development of their alma mater, spoke eloquently on the activities that retirees can engage in to keep them fit and happy.
Also speaking, the president of the institution’s alumni association, Engr Abu Salami, emphasized role of the polytechnic in promoting
technical education and creating skilled workforce, which he said had contributed to growth and development of the country.
“The institution has continuously evolved over the years, keeping pace with the changing times and needs of society and providing opportunities for students to excel in various fields of study.
“As we reflect on the past 50 years of the Kwara State Polytechnic, we must recognise the importance of nurturing the next generation of leaders and innovators. The Alumni association has an important role to play in this regard and we are committed to supporting the polytechnic in its efforts to provide quality education and training to students”, he said.
Salami also disclosed that the alumni association would lay foundation of N150 Alumni Village inside the polytechnic campus during the celebration; housing guest house, conference hall, worship centres, office complex, recreational areas, among others.
He said that the project would help generate funds for the association and bring members together.
And during the anniversary’s award night and fund raising, the chief of staff to president Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Bishop David Oyedepo were among the 50 eminent personalities who were honoured.
The awardees were honoured for their outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the premier institution in the state.
Speaking at the event, the rector of the institution, Dr Abdul Jimoh Muhammad, said, “the 50th anniversary of the polytechnic affords us opportunity to remember our founding fathers and eminent pillers of the society.
The protem chairman of the institution’s Alumni Association, Engr Abu Salami,noted that at 50 years of existence, the institution can not move forward without reappraisal, adding that, “ part of the reappraisal is to award individuals who have proven meritorious with honours,” he said.
Other awardees included the late military governor of Kwara State, Brigadier Gen. David Bamigboye, former military governor of the State; Group Captain Salawudeen Latinwo,the late Prof Shehu Jimoh, a former chairman, governing council of the polytechnic; Senator- elect Saliu Mustapha, and the founder of AlHikmah University, Ilorin, Alh AbdulRaheem Oladimeji.
