Fed Poly Ado Graduates Over 11,000 At 16th Convocation
About 11,558 full-time and part-time students have graduated from the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti at its 16th Convocation for the 2010/2011, 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 academic sessions.
Of the number, 3,855 graduated with Higher National Diploma (HND) while 7,882 bagged the National Diploma (ND).
Eighty-seven HND graduands made Distinction; 1,277 had Upper Credit; 2,038, Lower Credit; while 453 made pass in the three sessions.
For the ND, 107 graduated with Distinction, 1,660 had Upper Credit, while 4,106 and 2,009 graduands made the Lower Credit and Pass.
Minister of Education and Visitor to the Polytechnic, Mallam Adamu Adamu, represented by the Director of Tertiary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Hajiya Abdulahi, praised the institution for its trail-blazing efforts in the production of simple scientific equipment and glassware.
He noted that the Federal Government was making efforts to tackle youth unemployment by focusing on Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET).
“Job creation in the formal sector of the economy is not growing in proportion to the increasing population. Government has therefore refocused the minds of trainees of TVET institutions towards the possibilities of going into self-employment as a viable alternative to insufficient formal sector employment,” he said.
In his speech, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, also underscored the need for government to provide youths with opportunities to succeed.
Fayose, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Mr. ‘Jide Egunjobi, however, noted: “The government alone cannot bear the burden of education if a meaningful result is to be attained.”
The Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande, charged the graduands to practice all the skills gained from the entrepreneurship programme.
Highlight of the convocation was the conferment of Fellowship Awards on Alhaji Isah Mustapha Agwai I, the Emir of Lafia; Sir Oluremi Omotosho, a former Group Managing Director of the Oodua Conglomerate; and Mr. Oluwatoyin Alabi, an alumnus and a successful entrepreneur, for their contributions to the growth of the polytechnic.
