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The National President, Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti Alumni Association (FEDPAA), Dr Oyedokun Abiodun, has admonished members to develop themselves in relevant skills and specialized knowledge.
He equally appealed to the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to upgrade all polytechnics to degree-awarding institutions.
He spoke during the 2nd Annual General Meeting of FEDPAA, with the theme ‘Polytechnic Education and Alumni Engagement: Catalysts for Human Capital Development and a Resilient Economy’, which was held virtually.
Dr Abiodun also urged alumni to always strive to lead by example and be the best representation and product of the excellent polytechnic education they received. Our conduct and achievements are our most potent tools for advocacy”.
He said, “Upgrading polytechnics to degree-awarding status and finally breaking the B.Sc./HND dichotomy will stand as a truly remarkable and unforgettable landmark achievement in the history of Nigeria’s technological education.
“We appeal to President Tinubu to please approve the upgrading of all polytechnics to degree-awarding institutions. We appeal for the cancellation of the Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes, making the National Diploma (ND) the minimum entry requirement for a seamless transition into a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) programme in Nigeria.
“We also request that the cherished name of our institutions remain ‘polytechnic’. We appreciate your government for the commendable strides made in the education sector in Nigeria.
“Our goal is to achieve a better and more equitable polytechnic education system in Nigeria, one that will truly pave the way for accelerated technological advancement in our beloved country,” he said.
While giving an account of stewardship, the Alumni President said, “Our commitment to our Alma Mater is visible in our construction of hostels and various forms of institutional support. We have indeed done well in these areas”.
Abiodun urged members to “continually develop yourselves in relevant skills and specialized knowledge. Always strive to lead by example and be the best representation and product of the excellent polytechnic education you received. Our conduct and achievements are our most potent tools for advocacy”.
The Guest Speaker, Dr Simbo Popoola, who stressed the importance of the alumni to growth and development, described polytechnic education as “a key driver of national industrialization, provider of job-ready skills and manpower for engineering, ICT, agriculture and manufacturing, supporter of MSME growth and entrepreneurship”.
Popoola charged the alumni, “The world is changing fast-evolve faster, keep improving yourself, take the lead – shape the future, lead wherever you serve and let excellence be your signature”.
The Rector of the institution, Temitope Alake, charged the old students to “bear in mind that the survival of polytechnic education in Nigeria depends largely on its Alumni bodies. Let us therefore lend our voices and hands to causes that improve polytechnic education. In doing so, we shall not only save the sector, we shall save our nation.”
The rector hailed the association and its current leadership for efforts aimed at improving the institution’s lot, saying, “The Management of the Polytechnic continues to see the impactful touches of the Alumni Association in different areas in the Institution.
FEDPAA Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr Oluwatoyin Alabi, who described the AGM as a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to the growth, visibility, and continued relevance of our alma mater, urged all members “to deepen our engagement, support ongoing projects, and renew our sense of ownership”.
Alabi said, “As alumni, we are custodians of a proud legacy. Our institution shaped our skills, our values, and our aspirations. It is therefore our shared responsibility to ensure that The Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti continues to thrive as a centre of excellence-producing graduates who will compete and excel anywhere in the world”.
The Registrar of the institution, Mrs Folasade Akintola, hailed the Alumni, saying, “Your contributions – whether through mentorship, partnership, advocacy, or service-remain vital to the advancement of our noble institution. The Management of the Polytechnic is grateful to the Alumni and is confident that its efforts will continue to drive the Institution forward.
“No doubt, the strategic collaborative efforts of the Alumni body of the Polyethnic have yielded results and enhanced its developmental agenda. Your achievements in various fields of endeavour serve as an inspiration to our current students and reinforce the reputation of this great Institution,” she said.
The Vice President and Chairman, National Organising Committee, Moses Bominuru, said that the alumni will, through the theme of the AGM, “explore how our polytechnic education and collective engagement can drive national development.
He urged members, “As catalysts for change, let us leverage our diverse skills and experiences to shape FEDPAA’s future and contribute to Nigeria’s prosperity.
A former rector, Dr Theresa Akande, in her goodwill message, said, “The Alumni Association is part of the bedrock of our institution and the development of a nation’s economy. In fact, a sine qua non component of its existence and sustainability. The more progress the members of the public see our products making in their various fields of human endeavour, the more they are attracted to that institution.
Akande congratulated the alumni association for the giant strides attained in the first decade of its existence, as she advised, “Always conduct your affairs with decorum, dignity, and love. Be your brothers’ keeper always. Let peace and harmony be your watchword, and you all will be the better for it.
