How Osun Poly moulds ‘artisan graduates’

ONE of the major challenges facing Nigeria today is the growing level of youth unemployment. Though many solutions have been proffered to end this malaise, it can be said that virtually all stakeholders have mainly agreed that the various education curricular need to be redesigned to encourage entrepreneurial education as the kernel of every course of study the students are exposed to. To this end, not a few higher institutions in the country are designing courses in which skill acquisition of different hues is embedded.

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For the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, it seem entrepreneurial education is not just a means to an end. It is an end in itself. This much was recently made manifest at the institution’s matriculation ceremony for the 2018/2019 academic session. Matriculants appeared overwhelmed by the array of varieties of vocational education presented from which they were expected to pick. Added to this is the huge investment the institution has made into facilities, equipment human resources to make the students’ experience worth the duration of their various courses.

Welcoming the new students, the institution’s rector, Dr Jacob Agboola, had noted that, “our giant strides in the area of infrastructure development aimed at giving both the old and newly-admitted students a sense of pride as well as ensuring that teaching and learning take place under conducive atmosphere has earned us accolades continuously. Worthy of mention is the expansion of the Koko campus through the construction of additional lecture halls and recreational facilities, renovation and facility upgrade of the multi-purpose hall and the expansion of the health centre for effective health service delivery. Other infrastructural facilities which have been completed and put to use in the last 10 years of this administration are: the construction of Entrepreneurship Education Complex; construction of the e-library complex; construction of Mechanical Engineering Complex; construction of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Technology Complex; construction of Art and Design Complex; construction of Blocks of Student Toilet facilities on campus; construction of lecture hall in the Faculty of Science; construction of stores complex; construction of modern auditorium; construction of Daily-Part-Time Comples at Koko in 2012; and construction of an ultra-modern lecture hall in Koko.”

According to the Registrar of the institution, Mr Busari Salawu, the drive to make technical and entrepreneurial education teaching and learning achievable was first hinged on provision of infrastructures and equipment.

“Early this year, the ultra-modern Academic Board Complex was completed and handed over and had since been put to use. Only two days ago, another lecture theatre located adjacent the Arts and Design Complex was equally handed over by the contractor for use.

“In addition to these, concerted efforts are being made for timely completion of the ultra-modern Faculty of Environmental Studies and Department of Office Technology Management.

“In tandem with global economic realities, the institution has acquired equipment and materials for the training of students at the Entrepreneurship Education Complex. The fact that the management of this institution places high premium on skill acquisition through entrepreneurship education for job creation and economic empowerment underscores our huge financial commitment to the funding of the Directorate of Entrepreneurship Education. The directorate is well staffed with highly qualified academic and technical personnel that impart practical knowledge on different vocations like block-making, soap and detergent production, bead work, raffia and wood work, painting, sculpture, iron welding, plumbing fittings, carpentry/furniture, hairdressing, fashion and design, among others. Our focus is to make graduates of this institution self-reliant and employers of labour. You are hereby advised to avail yourself of this golden opportunity,” he said.

Similarly, the Dean, School of Technical Education, Dr (Mrs) Adeola Ijiwole, beat her chest that the school’s investment in technical education has produced results.

She told our reporter that “a visit to the directorate of entrepreneurship education’s showroom will clearly convince any visitor that the human, material and financial commitment so far are yielding positive dividends. Products like disinfectants, body and hair creams as well as consumables such as popcorn, meat pies, brad and groundnut are being produced by the directorate.

“Similarly, other products like pillows, bed sheets are produced, while raffia chairs and tables are also on display. The institutions satchet/table water factory also exposes students to the production of its products, while the Department of Welding and Fabrication collaborates in the training of students in welding and fabrication works.”

Also speaking on other innovations the school had been deploying, the immediate-past Deputy Rector of the institution, Dr Tope Ademiluyi, noted that the school realized early the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and tapped into it for the benefit of its products.

“Realizing that the entire world is now a global village through the web of Information Communication Technology (ICT), the management has ensured that programmes run in the institution are ICT-driven. To this end, the institution has entered into an agreement with the NNBTE to provide online distance learning programmes for students. For the regular students, e-lectures would be encouraged through the partnership,” he noted.