Governor Dapo Abiodun has advised the 2,347 graduating students of the Ogun State Institute of Technology (OGITECH), Igbesa, not to add to the growing rate of unemployment in Nigeria, asking them to think outside the box.
Abiodun said this Wednesday at the polytechnic’s fourth convocation ceremony and conferment of awards for the 2019/2020 academic session.
In his address, Abiodun, who was represented by the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, enjoined the graduands to see the academic awards as a starting point.
The governor charged them to be creative and think of whatever they could do to be employers of labour, instead of adding to the number of unemployed graduates.
“I enjoin you, these academic awards you have acquired are the starting points for achieving greater heights in the nearest future.
“Think outside the box of what you can do to become next employers and not as statistics to the growing rate of unemployment. Be creative and entrepreneurial,” Abiodun advised.
The governor admonished the new graduates to be dependable, industrious and wise, urging them to be good ambassadors of their alma mater.
“As you go into the world, contribute your quota. You should remember that you’re now transitioning into becoming shapers of other destinies. Be wise, responsible, industrious, dependable, humble and always portray positive characters. Ensure that you’re good ambassadors of this institute anywhere you find yourself,” he said.
Speaking further, Gov Abiodun congratulated the overall best student, Lawal David, who graduated with a GPA of 3.91.
He also congratulated Oluwatosin Okuleye, the first-ever Students Union President to graduate with distinction in the history of the institution, adding that 62 other students, who graduated with distinction are on the institution’s honours list.
Meanwhile, Gov Abiodun has given automatic employment to the best graduating student, David, in any establishment of his choice in Ogun.
“The governor gave the best graduating student the opportunity of working in any establishment of his choice. He has asked us to announce that the best graduating student will have automatic employment into this institution or any other institution of his choice in Ogun State,” Arigbabu stated.
He felicitated the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and the Olota of Ota, Oba Abdulkabir Obalanlege, for the honour conferred on them by the polytechnic, which he said was in recognition of their contributions to the peace of Ogun West, in particular, and the development of Ogun State, in general.
In her words, the Rector of OGITECH, Engr (Dr) Olufunke Akinkurolere, explained that the institute of technology is an ICT-based polytechnic, revealing that the students engaged in entrepreneurial activities as it has an affiliation with CISCO Networking Academy for the award of professional certification in IT Essentials, CCNA 1, 2, 3, 4; hence making them graduate with a minimum of two certificates.
With 30 accredited academic programmes at National Diploma and Higher National Diploma levels, Akinkurolere noted that the institution has witnessed resource inspection for the commencement of four new academic programmes, including Civil Engineering, Building Technology and Science Laboratory.
She said the institutions local contents were designed in such a way that Industries and organisations around the institute are discovering the relevance of graduates in their establishments, saying this is making them employable.
In her advice to the graduands, the Rector said, “I advise that as you graduate from school today, go and prosper, make positive changes and rebuild the falling walls of our Jerusalem, Nigeria. Do not contribute to the country’s woes, rather be patriotic and defend your country with all the skills you have acquired here. Above all, go and be good ambassadors of OGITECH.”
