A polytechnic lecturer, Professor Sabitu Ariyo Olagoke at the weekend called on both federal and state governments to give proper attention to the funding of technical education in the country, otherwise the desire for technological development would be a mirage.
Prof. Olagoke, who is also the dean of School of Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro in Ogun State, made the call in Ibadan at a lecture he delivered during an award of excellence conferred on him by the National Association of Polytechnic Students, NAPS.
While speaking on ‘Quality Polytechnic Graduates For National Development,’ Prof. Olagoke observed that quality graduates were the hope of the future, adding that quality does not stop at academic excellence alone, but extends to students who appreciate the culture of discipline, which would make them pure raw materials for thoroughbred professionalism.
According to him, “Acquired knowledge must be translated into practical reality through appropriate application of the theory to solving emerging challenges of the time. This is the essence of schooling and graduation for social transformation while on the field and system development.”
He, however, advised polytechnic graduates to struggle to serve in all aspect of decision making in order to influence positively the cause of polytechnic education in the country.
Prof. Olagoke was then bestowed with an award of excellence by the students’ association for his unprecedented contributions to engineering development.
Meanwhile, Olagoke while speaking with newsmen advised parents and guardians not to leave the educational upbringing of their children and wards in the hands of government alone, stressing that they must be fully committed to the future of their children in all ways.
