Former Registrar/CEO of the National Business and Technical Examination Board, NABTEB, Emeritus Professor Olu Aina, has said that the Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, is on the path of education revolution in the State, going by his policies and programmes in the sector.
The elder statesman, who is passionate about vocational and technical education, assured the governor of his support, those of his professional colleagues and other critical stakeholders in the State who, he said believed in the type of leadership Oyetola is offering in the State.
Prof. Aina spoke on Tuesday at the 7th Combined Convocation Ceremony of the 2019/2020 And 2020/2021 Sessions and Award of Certificates, Diplomas and Prizes of the Osun College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Osun.
“You are on the path of revolution in the development of Education in Osun State. You have my support and that of my other friends and professional colleagues and critical stakeholders who believe in the type of leadership you are offering at this point in Osun,” Prof. Aina said.
This is even as Governor Oyetola tasked Nigerian Universities and Colleges of Technology on academic excellence and advancement of technology-driven innovations.
He said the nation’s citadels of knowledge must wake up from slumber and brace up to their responsibilities at rescuing the country by bridging the gaps of palpable technology-based deficits.
The Governor charged the young graduates to look inward for their innate talents and combine them with the kernels of character, knowledge and entrepreneurship acquired in the course of their academic studies to impact and transform the country.
He described education as an unquantifiable legacy and the bedrock of socioeconomic development, saying it is incumbent on the technology-based institutions to invest more in researches, innovations and entrepreneurial skills to drive their vision to fruition, adding that “the nation has been looking forward to Universities and Colleges of Technology to win the ongoing war against unemployment.”
The Governor further said the Administration “would continually make provisions for educational institutions and continue to support them within available resources to accomplish their vision.
“I would also like to charge this College to continually take its mandate of teaching, research and community service seriously to enable it to produce competitive graduates.
“In a nation confronted by economic challenges and dwindling funding for education, alumni remain the strength of institutions. This College must therefore follow in the footsteps of world-class tertiary institutions by cultivating its alumni for sustainable development. The starting point is for the staff to treat the students well so that they can be encouraged to give back to their alma mater,” he added.
He congratulated the institution, the graduands and their parents on the successful completion of their academic studies.
Earlier, the Rector of the institution, Dr. Samson Adegoke, charged the graduands to apply the entrepreneurial skills acquired in all they do after their graduation.
The wife of the Governor, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola, Prof. Aina, Elder Kunle Odeyemi, Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Abdul-Rasheed and Mr. Bode Adediji, among others, were conferred with the fellowship award of the institution.
