Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to strengthening the state's education sector through sustained investment. Speaking at the combined convocation ceremony of Ekiti State College of Technology, Ijero-Ekiti, Oyebanji, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Habibat Adubiaro, called on stakeholders and philanthropists to complement government efforts in developing the education sector.
A total of 5,742 graduands were officially conferred with National Diploma and Higher National Diploma at the ceremony. Oyebanji pledged continued government support for EKSCOTECH and other state-owned tertiary institutions to enable them function effectively and deliver quality education. He charged the school management to sustain momentum and ensure that opportunities created by the institution's new Polytechnic status translate into better training and improved prospects for students and graduates.
The governor's pledge is a significant development in the state's education sector, which has witnessed a major transformation with the transition of EKSCOTECH to a full-fledged polytechnic status. The institution has expanded its academic programmes and secured accreditation for additional programmes from the National Board for Technical Education. This development has opened new opportunities for the institution, including access to TETFund support, JAMB recognition, and NYSC participation for eligible programmes and graduates.
Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Femi Thomas, described the institution's recent transformation as a deliberate effort to restore stability, strengthen its foundation, and complete its long-awaited transition to a polytechnic status. Thomas recalled that before the constitution of the present council, the governor had expressed concern over the challenges confronting the institution and charged the council to restore order and reposition it for growth.
Dr Thomas identified increased government subvention as one of the immediate needs of the polytechnic, alongside additional lecturers, infrastructure, and other facilities required to sustain the expansion. He listed the development of the permanent South Campus, construction of academic blocks, including facilities for the School of Engineering, library, and laboratories, among others, as part of the institution's priorities.
EKSCOTECH Rector, Dr Olufemi Olubamise, said the combined convocation was significant because it brought together graduands from academic sessions whose convocation ceremonies had not been held. He assured that the convocation ceremony would henceforth be held yearly, as the usual practice in institutions of higher learning. The event marked a significant milestone in the institution's history, with the governor's pledge expected to have a positive impact on the state's education sector.
Key points
- Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has pledged sustained investment in the state's education sector to strengthen infrastructure, human capital development, and institutional capacity.
- A total of 5,742 graduands were conferred with National Diploma and Higher National Diploma at the EKSCOTECH convocation ceremony.
- The institution has transitioned to a full-fledged polytechnic status, expanding its academic programmes and securing accreditation for additional programmes.
