The former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of international affairs, Professor Bola Akinterinwa has tasked the management and staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Ileoluji on the need to work towards becoming a polytechnic-university.
Akinterinwa made this statement at the 4th foundation day lecture of the institution that held today, Wednesday 18th May at the polytechnic's twin auditorium.
The don noted that polytechnic education in Nigeria is not in any way inferior to university education, contrary to the widespread notion about it. While citing the instance of France and China whose tertiary education system runs mostly on polytechnics, he argued that polytechnic education, if given the right attention in Nigeria, will adequately stand in the gap of the infrastructural and technological deficit in our societies.
Citing an example of how the Massachusetts institute of technology (MIT), USA help provide adequate professional training to the aeronautical engineers in Massachusetts. He noted that the polytechnic in Ileoluji must strive to carve a niche for itself by identifying practical ways by which it can impact its immediate community.
He went further to advocate the need for the university approach in technical education. He noted that university education, although philosophical and theoretical, must find its place in the polytechnic, hence the Polytechnic-University hybrid concept.
While responding to questions after his lecture, the foreign affairs expert revealed that he and the polytechnic rector had met with the minister of National planning, Zainab Ahmed, to fashion out ways to achieve this. He specifically disclosed that their plan was to cooperate with the Chinese to set up a workshop-classroom model, in a way that is similar to what obtains in China polytechnics.
He further charged the institution and the community to ensure that they maintain a vibrant town-gown relationship. This was further reiterated by the proprietress of Aunty Dupe institutions, Chief Mrs. Modupe Ogunsusi, who charged the rector to actively collaborate with the Bola Tinubu skills acquisition centre in the town, as this will enable students at the centre to get certified by the polytechnic after getting the needed skills and as well serve as the showroom of the polytechnic in the town.
Akinterinwa delivered his lecture in his characteristic jocular manner and splashed it all over with his wealth of experience all over the world. His diplomatic adroitness came into play while responding to a question of how to attract enough funding to accelerate growth in the education sector. The astute diplomat simply delved into practical global issues to address the question, he concluded that attracting funds is simple; one needs to identify a specific need and design a solution-based model, he claims that the foreign multinationals are always willing to give grants.
Other dignitaries present at the event includes the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, represented by his special adviser on eduation, the commissioner of education, Femi Agagu, the Vice chancellor of Olusegun Agagu University of science and technology, Okitipupa, Jegun of Ileoluji kingdom, Oba Julius Adetimehin, Lord Bishop of Ileoluji Anglican diocese, chief Imam of Ileoluji, among others.
Comments
Post a Comment