*Cautions traditionalists on midnight rites
Michael Adesanya/Abeokuta
Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Friday, laid the foundation stone of the proposed Ogun State Polytechnic at Ipokia in Ipokia Local government area.
The State House of Assembly months ago gave the government approval to relocate the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic from Abeokuta to Ipokia while its campus is to be used for the proposed Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology (MAUSTECH).
The Governor led the technical team and other members of the State Executive Council, including his Deputy, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga to perform the grand breaking event.
Speaking at the site of the main campus in Ijaye-Okeeyinbo, Amosun stated that the gesture was in fulfillment of his electoral promise during the governorship election in 2015.
He disclosed that the polytechnic would sit on 500 hectares of land.
Amosun noted that the institution would not only be a full conventional institution but one that would comply with international standards whose graduates would be able to compete favourably with others around the world.
The Governor further said the establishment of the Polytechnic was part of his administration’s socio-economic blueprint to distribute infrastructure across the state.
Amosun thanked the Ipokia community for their support, saying the project, when completed, would change the entire landscape of the town.
He assured that government would compensate anyone whose property, farmland or farm produce is affected in the course of the construction; disclosing that local contractors would handle the construction of the structures as emphasis would be placed on the promotion of local content.
According to him, the institution which already had more than 42 accredited courses would be a multi campus institution with accommodation and staff quarters for students and lecturers respectively.
The Governor appealed to the traditionalists to accommodate the prospective students of the institution.
Amosun who emphasised on ‘Oro festival’ which the community is known for, appealed to the adherents to limit the timing of their rites to midnight.
Amosun explained that it is when development is allowed in any community that the culture and tradition of such community can also be developed.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Onanuga called on the youth, women and all indigenes to take full advantage of the opportunity to seek higher education.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota said the establishment of the institution was a clear demonstration of the equitable principle of the Governor in the fair distribution of resources among the three senatorial districts of the State.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers and Royal fathers, the Olu of Ilaro, enjoined people of Yewa land to rally round and support the Governor, advising that there were some traditions of the land that must be amended and modernized.
In his own speech, the Paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle advised all the monarchs and village heads in the area to moderate tradition and apply wisdom in order to allow for smooth running of the new institution.
All the speakers at the event, including the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Suraj Isola Adekunbi lauded the government for locating the school in Yewaland.
They challenged all indigenes of the area to support the government’s gesture by donating structures for the quick take off of the polytechnic which the Governor said would be in October or November as directed by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).