By Adetokunbo FAKEYE
Nigeria – The Rector of Ogun State Institute of Technology, OGITECH, Igbesa, in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, Dr. Abiodun Babatunde Oluseye PhD, on Wednesday, 26th February, 2025, at the Institute 6th combined Convocation ceremony, where combined numbers of 9,320 students graduated, revealed that, all courses offered in the school are adequately accredited by the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE.
Dr. Oluseye, who revealed this in his speech, stated that the institution, in less than two years of his administration, has become more renowned, reputable and acclaimed.
“For instance, upon assuming office as the third substantive Rector of the Institute, I inherited 38 programmes, with 17 overdue for accreditation and 10 scheduled for NBTE visitation.
“As part of efforts to address this, 24 programmes were successfully presented for NBTE accreditation from Monday, November 27, to Friday, December 1, 2023. Additionally, 15 programmes underwent NBTE visitation from Wednesday, July 24, to Saturday, July 27, 2024.
“In less than a year, 29 programmes were re-accredited, and 10 new ones were secured, bringing the total number of accredited programmes at the Institute to 46. All duly accredited. Similarly, while I met about 3 PhDs on my arrival, my tenure has produced about 11 PhDs with scores at different levels of completion. I therefore, use this opportunity to once again congratulate Doctors Oshineye, Agunbiade, Edun, Omoare, Odutola, Ademola, Fatoki, Bello, Oladipupo, Ebisin and Aina”.
The highlight of the occasion was the conferment of the Institute’s Honorary Award on three distinguished people, has contributed to the growth of the school. They are: the Ogun State first lady, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, a business guru and philanthropist Alhaji Ibrahim Dende Egungbohun, a Risk Subject Matter Expert Temitayo Agemo-Okuboyejo and Prof. Rahamon Adisa Bello.
Speaking on the awardees, Dr. Oluseye said, “To our dear awardees who are being conferred with the prestigious Fellowship award of the Institute, I say congratulation. I wish to emphasise that you are all deserving of this enviable conferment. Our dear First Lady, her Excellency, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun is a great lover of youths and education and she has through her pep project displayed this unrelentingly. Dr Bosun Tijani, the Hon. Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy facilitated a state of the art ICT Centre to this Institution. This Centre has been the bulwark of our Innovation Centre. Alhaji Ibrahim Egungbohun ( IBD Dende) is a great businessman, philanthropist, and a lover of youths. He has always contributed to the development of our institution. Engnr. (Mrs) Temitayo Agemo-Okuboyejo is a native of Igbesa, though US based, she is a philanthropist of note and an education aficionado”.
The ceremony, had in attendance the Moderator of the Institute, the Governor of Ogun State Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun, CON, ably represented by the Deputy Governor, H.E Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; the First Lady of Ogun State, H.E. Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, The Executive Chairman, Ado Odo Ota LGA, Hon. Wasiu Lawal, FCA; Rt. Hon. Egbetokun, Distinguished royal fathers, including The Olu Ilaro, Paramount ruler of Yewaland, and Chairman Ogun State Council of Obas, Alayeluwa Oba Kehinde Olugbenle; HRM Oba (Prof.) Abdulkabir Obalanlege, the Olota of Ota, Chief Mrs Iyabode Apampa and Convocation Lecturer, Prof. Rahamon Adisa Bello.
Below is the full achievements speech:
CONVOCATION SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE RECTOR OF OGUN STATE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, IGBESA, DR ABIODUN BABATUNDE OLUSEYE, THE THIRD SUBSTANTIVE RECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE, AT ITS 6TH COMBINED CONVOCATION CEREMONY, HELD ON THE 26TH OF FEBRUARY, 2025
God, the Poet of all things, the ever-listening Governor of our dear State, His Excellency, Prince (Dr) Dapo Abiodun, CON, the Visitor to our great Institution, the Deputy Governor, Her Excellency, Engr. Noimot Salako, the ever supportive Honourable Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, our amiable Ag. Chairman of the Governing Council, Evangelist Kehinde Olusoji, our revered members of the Council, our Awardees, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, MFR the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland and Chairman Ogun State Council of Obas, His Royal Highness, Oba Abdul-Azeez Oluwatoyin Akanbi Akinde, FCA, the Oloja-Ekun of Igbesa, and other traditional rulers here seated, distinguished members of the Governing Council, our Revered Convocation Lecturer, Professor Rahmon Bello, major stakeholders in higher education in Ogun State here present, esteemed Captains of industries, the ever dedicated Management members of the Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa, members of the Academic Board, our dear dedicated Staff, the Celebrants of today, our dear Graduands, esteemed Parents, greatest Nigerian Students, Gentlemen of the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen.
It affords me the greatest pleasure to be part of this intellectual communion and celebration of academic attainments. I heartily welcome you all to Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa, a great technology hub and one of the fastest growing technological citadels in Nigeria.
OGITECH as we are fondly reputed, imbues our youths, not only with sound educational knowledge but also with contemporaneous hands-on skills and values capable of emplacing them on exalted pedestals anywhere in the world.
I wish to particularly express my appreciation to the Executive Governor of our dear State, His Excellency, Prince (Dr) Dapo Abiodun, CON, for his preferment of me as the third Substantive Rector of this great Institution. Similarly, I appreciate the Institution’s Governing Council for their recommendations and the warm, cordial and mutual relationships with which, together with the Management, we have been piloting the affairs of the Institution.
It gladdens my heart to inform you all that all our courses are adequately accredited by the National Board for Technical Education. Indeed, the institution, in less than two years of my administration, has become more renowned, reputable and acclaimed. For instance, upon assuming office as the third substantive Rector of the Institute, I inherited 38 programmes, with 17 overdue for accreditation and 10 scheduled for NBTE visitation. As part of efforts to address this, 24 programmes were successfully presented for NBTE accreditation from Monday, November 27, to Friday, December 1, 2023. Additionally, 15 programmes underwent NBTE visitation from Wednesday, July 24, to Saturday, July 27, 2024.
In less than a year, 29 programmes were re-accredited, and 10 new ones were secured, bringing the total number of accredited programmes at the Institute to 46. All duly accredited. Similarly, while I met about 3 PhDs on my arrival, my tenure has produced about 11 PhDs with scores at different levels of completion. I therefore, use this opportunity to once again congratulate Doctors Oshineye, Agunbiade, Edun, Omoare, Odutola, Ademola, Fatoki, Bello, Oladipupo, Ebisin and Aina.
On the flip side, the Institution regrets the demise of one of its Governing Council members, Hon. Falilu Adebisi Sabitu, who contributed immensely to the development of the Institution. In a similar vein, we pray that God almighty grant our indefatigable Chairman of Council Chief Kola Sorinola speedy recovery.
Before I address the graduating students, I consider it necessary to provide a little background for what my administration has been able to do in the last one and a half years. This will give an idea of the quality which the students are made of. Since my assumption of office, the administration has recorded the following achievements with the support of the State Government and our highly progressive Governing Council:
The Construction of a Modern Gatehouse, fully equipped with Close Circuit Television (CCTV) facilities for the Institute.
The Construction of the state-of-the-art toilet facilities for students.
Facilitating the tarring of the Polytechnic access road by Sen. Adeola Olamilekan and the construction of walk ways through self-effort within the Institution.
Embarking on a massive Perimetre fencing of the Institution; The construction of a decent Pavilion for students; Expansion of the Institute’s Administrative Building; Rector’s Office and the Governing Council Chambers; Initiating the process of the Institute’s Radio whose license is awaiting the President’s approval; Establishing OGITECH Microfinance Bank, whose process is in top gear; Initiating an internal Loan Scheme for all the staff; Establishment of the Institute’s Robotics and Innovation Centre which is now fully functional; Commencement of the Open Distance, Flexible and e- learning (ODFeL) Programme; Securing a beneficial working relationships with some of the industries around. This has helped in forging industrial collaborations and partnerships that now enhance the ready employment of the Institute’s graduates. Through these efforts, the graduates’ career and industrial prospects are becoming brighter by the day.
Just last year, Quantum Packaging Limited employed the following six graduates:
[i] Shobande Peace Oluwabukola
[ii] Taiwo Olawoyin Timothy
[iii] Oladega Ibrahim Olakunle
[iv] Asabe Daniel
[v] Onifade Theophilus
[vi] Duyuleme Daniel.
Along the same line of productive collaboration, RIL Hydro Krafts Limited Garki, Abuja, requested five Female Graduates from the Institute’s School of Engineering.
They got the following:
[i] Lawal Oluwadarasimi Progress
[ii] Adewale Ololade Omotolani
[iii] Ossai Chika
[iv] Anyanwu Chioma Delight
[v] Imhanomowo Favour Efua.
Another company which has also been responding in this collaborative effort is Nestle Nigeria Limited. They have employed the following alumni of the Institute:
[i] Oyedare Abosede
[ii] Timothy Akintan
[iii] Babatunde Saheed
[iv] Moses Ogbodo
[v] Usman Emmanuel
[vi] Emmanuel oloyede
[vii] Romanus Ebhodagbe
[viii] Adamson Igunbor
[ix] Ikechukwu Ottah
[x] Bibire Ekekiel.
In December, 2024, the company sponsored Oyedare Abosede and Timothy Akintan on a course of training to Switzerland based on their impressive performance.
Other achievements of the administration in less than two years in office include:
facilitation of Solar Power to augment public power supply and enhance continuous research and experiments at the Schools of Communication and Information Technology, Engineering Technology, Science Laboratory Technology and Business Management and Financial Management Studies, Revitalizing, equipping and upgrading the status of the Institute’s Health Centre for better efficiency, prompt response and qualitative service delivery, by employing a qualified Doctor and full-time Nurses.
Initiating a healthcare scheme for the staff
Upgrading the Sports Unit, registering teams with both Gateway Tertiary Institutions Games (GATIG) and Nigeria Polytechnics Games (NIPOGA). The Institution will be participating for the first time in Nigeria Polytechnic Games Ijakadi 2024 in Offa, later in the year.
Upgrading Classrooms Lecture Theatres, Laboratories and Workshops for better curriculum delivery. Prompt promotion of deserving staff members and implementation of salary increment as and when due.
Face-lifting the Board room through the provision of modern communication systems; Conversion of HND holders’ entry point to Assistant Lecturers in OGITECH, as against Instructors, Connection of Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun Administrative Building, the TETFund Building and others, which were not previously connected to the public power grid, Facilitation of modern toilet facilities for students from the Viju Milk as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility to the Institute, Provision of potable water for the Institute’s community, Enhancement of the work environment through the provision of tools for the staff and embarking on massive beautification of the Campus, Creation of Love Park where students can rest in between lectures.
Encouraging staff to further improve themselves, which has led to a tremendous increase in the number of applications for further studies among them.
Payment of some of the inherited salary arrears of the staff.
Facilitation of a commuter bus for the students from Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola.
Constitution of OGITECH-Igbesa Community Forum.
Provision of modern Sound Gadgets for the Church and the Mosque on Campus.
The list is endless.
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, this 6th Convocation signposts the first convocation ceremony that the Institute is holding since my assumption of office about a year and a half ago, and it comes as a combined one to honour the 2021/2022, 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 sets. At this particular convocation the total number of graduating students is 9320 as the breakdown below shows:
2021/2022 2022/2023 2023/2024
ND 1513 ND 2044 ND 2808
HND 715 HND 1007 HND 1233
TOTAL 2228 TOTAL 3051 TOTAL 4041
The breakdown of the class of diplomas for today’s Convocation is as follows:
2021/2022 2022/2023 2023/2024
HND HND HND
Distinction 23 Distinction 35 Distinction 55
Upper Credit 256 Upper Credit 311 Upper Credit 453
Lower Credit 402 Lower Credit 632 Lower Credit 675
Pass 34 Pass 29 Pass 50
TOTAL 715 1007 1233
2021/2022 2022/2023 2021/2022
ND ND ND
Distinction 23 Distinction 18 Distinction 24
Upper Credit 243 Upper Credit 514 Upper Credit 360
Lower Credit 840 Lower Credit 1113 Lower Credit 1768
Pass 412 Pass 399 Pass 656
TOTAL 1513 2044 2808.
My dear graduating students, I warmly and heartily congratulate you once again. You are now our ambassadors and the hope for a greater technological advancement for Ogun State, Nigeria and indeed, the world at large. I know the world out there is quite tough, but I am very confident that with the fecund theoretical and practical orientations that you have received here, you have been adequately burnished to survive, compete and excel anywhere in the world irrespective of the coarseness or tenderness of the terrain.
My dear graduands, remember your grills and drills in your different courses of study – Robotics and Innovation, CISCO Networking Academy and Entrepreneurship. I dare say that you go and conquer the world, always believing that “Your life is your story and the adventure ahead of you is the journey to fulfil your own purpose and potentials” (Kerry Washington). My dear graduands, while I covet the grace of God upon you, I urge you to ever remember your alma mater, be diligent, be consummate and be humble. And it shall always be well with you.
Ever cherished guests, may I turn to our dear parents and guardians who are present at this event. You are true heroes and heroines. I note all the difficult decisions that you took in keeping these children in school. I commend you for such decisions. I acknowledge the huge sacrifices you made in sponsoring their education. I also celebrate you for those sacrifices. Giving your children the best of education is the wisest of all decisions. Supporting them is the father of all investments. May God grant you long life and good health to be part of their success stories that have earnestly commenced.
To our dear awardees who are being conferred with the prestigious Fellowship award of the Institute, I say congratulation. I wish to emphasise that you are all deserving of this enviable conferment. Our dear First Lady, her Excellency, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun is a great lover of youths and education and she has through her pep project displayed this unrelentingly. Dr Bosun Tijani, the Hon. Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy facilitated a state of the art ICT Centre to this Institution. This Centre has been the bulwark of our Innovation Centre. Alhaji Ibrahim Egungbohun ( IBD Dende) is a great businessman, philanthropist, and a lover of youths. He has always contributed to the development of our institution. Engnr. (Mrs) Temitayo Agemo-Okuboyejo is a native of Igbesa, though US based, she is a philanthropist of note and an education aficionado.
Your Excellencies, Our Royal Fathers, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I must seize this opportunity to specially congratulate the six best graduating students selected across the sets from both the National Diploma and the Higher National Diploma levels:
For the 2021/2022 set, Afolabi, Sodiq Ayo of the Department of Physics graduated in the distinction class with the CGPA of 3.91 out of 4 in the Higher National Diploma category, while Azubuike, David Akachukwu of the Department of Mass Communication graduated in the distinction class with the CGPA of 3.81 out of 4, in the National Diploma category.
In 2022/2023, Ojo, Dorcas Omobonike of Micro-Biology graduated in the distinction class with the total CGPA of 3.86 out of 4, in the Higher National Diploma category, while Ogunlaja, Damilola Akeem of the Accountancy Department graduated in the distinction class with the total CGPA of 3.79 out of 4, in the National Diploma category.
For the 2023/2024 set, Ismail, Hafeez Olamilekan of the Accountancy Department will walk away with the prize for graduating best in the distinction class with the CGPA of 3.91 out of 4, at the Higher National Diploma level and Fayemi, Timileyin Timothy, also of the Accountancy Department will get the prize for graduating best in the National Diploma category with the total CGPA of 3.71 out of 4.
Our dear guests, it is instructive to note that our students who obtain distinctions and upper credits here also maintain such feats elsewhere. For instance, our students who proceeded to the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, for their Higher National Diploma programmes have, for about three consecutive times bagged distinctions. The latest one is Ajidahun Funmilayo Ruth, who graduated from the Department of Mass Communication with the CGPA of 3.55 out of 4.
The six students listed above are not the only ones who graduated in the distinction class, but they topped their respective sets. Therefore, I would like to heartily congratulate all other students who also graduated with distinctions. As I celebrate all the graduating students of today, I challenge you to go into the world and make a difference in your various chosen fields.
Your Excellency Sir, all is not rosy however. Some of the challenges the Institution is facing include major incursion into the land of the Institution which has hampered the appropriate extension of the Polytechnic. A similar challenge is the shortage of infrastructure and paucity of funds to further push the growth of the Institution in desired and desirable directions. We have always counted on your interventions and support in our collective determination to actualise the vision set for the Institute. As our pillar of support, we pray that you shall continue to wax stronger.
Your Excellences, our dear Royal Fathers, Our Awardees, Invited Guests, Parents, our Graduands, Friends of the Institute, well-wishers and other guests, in the words of Marcus Cicero ”‘Gratitude is not the greatest virtue, but the parent of others’. It is on this note that I say ’thank you most immensely for priotising us over streams of other competing schedules. We appreciate this and this in no way is taken for granted. I pray that God almighty shall continue to honour you. Once again, we feel greatly honoured to have you grace the occasion. I pray God to grant you journey mercies back to base.
Thank you all and God bless.
