The Only of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, has commended the Federal Polytechnic (FEDPOLY) Ilaro, Ogun State for the commissioning of the first commercial television station – Polytechnic TV Ilaro, at the institution.
Describing it as a blessing and a thing of joy to him that the achievement occured during his reign and other traditional rulers in Yewaland, pledged to assist in soliciting the support of government for more federal allocations to enable the institution meets the demands of the mandate placed in its hand.
The Paramount Ruler spoke during the inauguration and launching of the Polytechnic TV station to commemorate the 1st anniversary of Dr. Mukail Akinde as Rector, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro on Tuesday at a ceremony that had in attendance, the Olu of Imasayi, Oba Luqmon Kuoye and Aboro of Ibese Oba Mulero among other dignitaries.
Polytechnic TV Ilaro is a commercial television station with educational contents meant to showcase the rich cultural heritage and tradition of Yewaland, ostensibly to launch the area into the global stage, educate, inform, entertain viewers and boost the Internally Generated Revenue(IGR) of the FEDPOLY.
The monarch lauded the Rector, Dr. Mukail Akinde for leading the institution to achieve the feat within the first year in office, assuring that the sons and daughters of Yewaland, including Mr Lukman Musa, a renowned media consultant, would continue to use their resources and experience to support the polytechnic for the development of the school and Ilaro as the task could not be left for the government to carry alone.
He said, “Few years back, they gave us a radio station in Ilaro here. This institution has been a blessing to the people of Yewaland and Ogun State. I will recollect that it is one of the foremost polytechnic in Nigeria in terms of achievements. I can recollect that only University that has Tv station.
“So, coming here today to commission this Tv station is a thing of pride to me and the good people of Yewaland. It is something that can showcase our culture, promote our tradition and all the sociocultural amenities that we have here and the rest of the world can see us for who we are and some of the challenges confronting us. The TV station will bring us to the global stage through the you tube and other platforms. Anybody can click to watch what is happening here. All our children all over the world can see what is happening here. I’m happy it happening during my reign and that of other monarchs in Yewaland that are alive to witness this.
“It is my prayer that this will not be last TV that will be commissioned in Yewaland. We are expecting more very soon. Our children are supporting the polytechnic with their resources, we are not going to leave the institution to the government alone to support. The federal government has done a lot in terms of support and development of the polytechnic.
“We are soliciting more support from the government for the polytechnic. What they are given to institution in terms of yearly or monthly allocation is not enough to drive what they have invested here. That is just the truth. Some courses have been added and more are still coming being one of the most preferred polytechnic in the Southwest, I think the government should look into that area and ensure that more allocations are given to Federal polytechnic, Ilaro to enable them meet that mandate the government has placed in their hands. I have no doubt that the Rector would make judicious use of the resources when they are deployed financially to train our children for the development of our nation. That is the way to secure our future.”
All hands Must Be On Deck To Surmount Nigeria’s Present Challenges – Justice Ojo
Speaking earlier, chairman of the occasion, Justice Mobolaji Ojo (retired) declared that for Nigeria to surmount her challenges and attain the desired economic prosperity, all hands must be on deck as the task of nation building should not be left for the leaders alone to shoulder.
Ojo expressed the concern that in the reckoning of many Nigerians, they are never wrongs, except their leaders, explaining that the citizens have not yet been able to see how they are contributory factor to the challenges of leadership and governance of the country.
“Nigerians are never wrong. If you asked Nigerians what is the problem of the country today, they would say it is Buhari, Jonathan, Tinubu or Peter Obi and they don’t see how they are part of the challenges facing the country. To make things right and better, all hands must be on deck,” he said.
He made case for more technology – driven education to provide the middle level manpower needs of the manufacturing sector, lamenting that the unemployment situation, low creativity and productivity in the country derived in part from much emphasis placed on degree certificates and less on technical and technology – driven education.
He urged the Polytechnic to strive towards meeting the manpower and technological needs of the country.
Speaking, the Rector, Dr. Mukail Akinde, said the best way to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led federal government is to grow the Polytechnic to eliminate epileptic electricity supply by connecting it to the 33 KVA, at a location some meters away from the institution.
He revealed that if connected to the
33 KVA, which was graciously given free of charge by Chief Dende Egungbohun,
the polytechnic would be able to run the satellite Television and the Poly FM radio continuously to propagate every empowerments of our highly revered Yewa cultural values (Egungun, Efe, Gelede, Igunnuko, Ofe, Bolojo, Isogbeto etc) to the whole world from the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro.
He said the institution spends N11 million naira weekly on diesel to power its power generating equipment.
“I am really sad because we do not have constant electricity to power the new satellite television as well as powering our innovations such as Kokoro making machine , Gari Processing Machine, Perm Kernel Shredding Machine, Corn Shredding Machine, Perm Oil Processing Machine, Bottle Water Shredding Machine and so many other machines to assist the entire Ogun West.
“If we have electricity, with the innovation and equipment we do have, the students, staff and community will benefit tremendously. We want to train artisans (mechanics, rewire, panel beater, electricians, bricklayers, plumbers, carpenters etc) on how to use modern techniques.
“We cannot do it because of poor electricity supply. We have a lot of innovations in our farms that could benefit the entire Ogun West. The Poor supply of electricity is a serious issue because diesel is now N1,100 per liter.
“This is Ogun West Jerusalem. My brothers and sisters we have to sustain the momentum and develop huge land resources. We just created the School of Agriculture. This will expand the Polytechnic to have more students across the 6 Schools for the benefits of the community,” the Rector said.
