Monarch also gifts ₦1.5m each to six faculty-best students and ₦2m to two lecturers.
Ibadan: The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has honoured academic excellence at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, with a ₦6 million cash prize to the institution’s overall best graduating student during its 40th convocation ceremony.
The monarch also gifted ₦1.5 million each to six faculty-best students and ₦2 million apiece to two lecturers recognised for technological innovation, underscoring his commitment to education and youth empowerment.
Speaking on behalf of other awardees, Ooni praised the institution and urged the graduands to be hardworking and focused to achieve success in life.
“The foundation is very critical in anything you do, and it is a joy to reconnect with my foundation despite having other degrees,” he said.
He also announced an annual innovation award and presented N2 million each to two lecturers of the institution for their outstanding technological innovations.
The institution’s Visitor and Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, was represented by his Deputy, Chief Adebayo Lawal, who pledged the institution’s continued support.
Makinde said, “Education has been at the front burner of this administration, hence the large allocation given to it in the budget estimate, which is about 17 to 21 per cent of the budget.”
He noted that ad hoc staff have been converted to full staff to address the manpower shortage.
Makinde called for greater discipline, urging all members of staff to work hand in hand to raise the bar of academic excellence in the institution.
In his address, the Chairman of the Governing Council of TPI, Prof. Moshood Nassar, commended Makinde for his unflinching support toward repositioning the institution.
According to him, the council’s inauguration six months ago has strengthened industrial harmony among the unions, leading to higher productivity.
Nassar noted the alumni’s contributions and urged graduates to take advantage of the alumni network to secure jobs and connections that would enrich their lives.
In his address, the Rector of TPI, Dr Taiwo Lasisi, noted the institution’s academic strides, adding that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has approved new programmes.
These are ND Food Science and Technology, ND Transport Planning and Management, and ND Crime Management.
“Others are HND Science Laboratory Technology (Environmental Biology Option) and HND Fashion Design and Clothing Technology.
“No doubt, the institution has been doing excellently well in the area of accreditation along with others,” he said.
Lasisi said 4,993 students graduated, comprising 1,514 National Diploma and 2,879 Higher National Diploma, across five faculties.
The Valedictorian, Kemisola Yussuf, of the Microbiology Department, appreciated God, the school management and the faculty members for imparting knowledge in them.
She enjoined her colleagues to see the present moment as the beginning of greater exploits, as they put into use all they have learnt from the institution.
Dr Ahmed Raji and Dr Olajide Babatunde were also conferred with the institution’s Fellowship.
