The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the Ogun State Government to convert the Gateway Industrial and Petro-Gas Institute (GIPI) in Oni, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, from a monotechnic to a full-fledged polytechnic. This call is part of efforts to address the challenges confronting the institution, including prolonged neglect, underfunding, and poor welfare of staff. NANS Secretary-General, Oladimeji Uthman, made the call in a statement on Sunday.
According to Uthman, converting GIPI to a polytechnic would expand its academic mandate, create opportunities for the accreditation of more courses, and strengthen its capacity to produce skilled manpower for Ogun State and Nigeria's emerging oil, gas, and industrial sectors. GIPI was established in 2008 by an Act of the Ogun State House of Assembly under the administration of former Governor Gbenga Daniel. The institution has enormous potential but has been constrained by inadequate funding, limited accreditation, and poor staff welfare.
Uthman expressed concern over the disparity in the remuneration of GIPI workers, noting that staff members had allegedly remained on an outdated minimum wage structure for years while other government workers had benefited from successive wage reviews. He appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to urgently review the salary structure of GIPI workers and integrate them into the appropriate state wage regime. The welfare of workers is crucial to the quality of education they provide.
Uthman commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for his intervention in securing the accreditation of two courses at the institution but urged the government to extend the intervention to other programmes. He said the accreditation of additional courses would be difficult to sustain without comprehensive institutional reform and adequate funding. The conversion of GIPI to a polytechnic should not be viewed merely as a change of name; it must come with adequate funding, improved infrastructure, staff recruitment and welfare, and the accreditation of relevant courses.
The strategic importance of GIPI has increased with the development of Ogun State's industrial and maritime sectors, particularly the emergence of major investments around the Ogun Waterside axis. GIPI is strategically located in an area with enormous industrial and maritime potential. Rather than allow the institution to collapse, the government should reposition it to become a major centre for technical and technological education.
Uthman urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to constitute a committee involving relevant government agencies, the institution's management, staff representatives, and student stakeholders to develop a comprehensive roadmap for the conversion of GIPI to a polytechnic. The roadmap should address accreditation, infrastructure, funding, staffing, and workers' welfare. This will help unlock the institution's potential and address the challenges it faces.
Converting GIPI to a polytechnic, adequately funding it, and addressing the welfare of its workers will be a major step towards unlocking its potential. NANS is appealing to Governor Dapo Abiodun to rescue GIPI from institutional decline. The association believes that this move will help reposition the institution to meet the needs of Ogun State and the Nigerian economy.
Key points
- NANS urges Ogun State to convert Gateway Industrial and Petro-Gas Institute to a polytechnic.
- Conversion will expand academic mandate and create opportunities for accreditation of more courses.
- Institution faces challenges including neglect, underfunding, and poor staff welfare.
