Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, have described the pioneer graduates of the First Technical University, Ibadan, as being certified worthy of learning and character.
Makinde said this on Saturday, March 5, during the first convocation of the institution.
He urged the first set of graduates to make necessary use of the vocational training and entrepreneurship skills they acquired to create jobs.
The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, said that courses studied at the institution would make them to be self-reliance and job creators.
He said globally, emphasis had shifted from white collar jobs to self-employment, adding that attention had been shifted toward institutions that prepare graduates to be job providers and not mere job seekers.
While congratulating the graduands for the successful completion of their programmes, said: “By implication, the graduands have satisfied all academic board requirements for the award of degrees of the institution.
“Let me point out at this juncture that the graduands have been certified to be worthy in learning and character.
“Also, I am aware that the kind of training that this institution provides exposes students to practicals in various fields of their studies.
“It is no gainsaying, therefore, that these graduands have acquired the necessary skills in vocational training, skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development as prerequisite for self-reliance and jobs creation,” Makinde said.
The governor further congratulated eminent personalities who had distinguished themselves in their respective callings and considered worthy to be conferred with distinguished fellowship award of Tech-U.
He expressed happiness that many of the awardees were already contributing toward the upliftment of the institution.
Makinde also commended the host communities for the cordial relationship existing between them and the institution.
He reiterated that his administration acknowledged education as a key aspect of growth and development.
“And that is why it forms an integral part of the four-point agenda of our administration.
“Our goal is to ensure free and qualitative education in a bid to lifting the people from poverty and underdevelopment.
“This is why we have been ambitiously investing in education at all levels.
“We believe that education should liberate society, help to fight poverty, defeat unemployment and engender industry,” the governor explained.
In his address, Prof. Ayobami Salami, Vice-Chancellor of the institution, announced that 63 students graduated in five academic programmes run by the institution, while 12 of them graduated with First Class.
Ayobami said the institution was a unique one in the sense that “it ensures that apart from the normal degree programmes, every student must go through a Diploma Programme in entrepreneurship and a certificate programme in one other international languages, apart from English”.
He said that the institution had recorded many achievements within the short time of its existence.
According to him, in the latest ranking by NUC, the Tech-U is seventh among all the state universities, and 27th among all the universities ranked in Nigeria.
“Within two years of commencement of academic activities, Tech-U has won three international research grants with a combined worth of over 450,000 dollars and host of many others,” Ayobami said.
He appreciated the state governor for giving free hand to run the institution and allowing local government scholarship scheme to continue unhindered.
The vice-chancellor announced that the First Class graduands who are interested in academic pursuits have been offered automatic employment immediately after their mandatory National Youths Service year.
