Tech-U set to commence postgraduate programmes

The Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan, has disclosed that preparations are at an advanced stage to commence postgraduate programmes.

This hint was given on Friday by the vice chancellor of the institution, Professor Adesola Ajayi, in his address during the university’s second convocation ceremony.

He also hinted at an ongoing collaboration with the Atlanta Technical College to establish an Aviation Education and Entrepreneurship programme, using Ibadan as a hub.

The goal, according to him, is to develop some programmes in aviation services and aircraft maintenance “as well as programmes that will lead to the certification or our Engineering graduates.”

He also explained that the endeavour would see Tech-U train people in other related aviation services.

While acknowledging, with gratitude, the presence of the visitor to the university, Governor Seyi Makinde; and the chancellor and benefactor of the university, Chief Tunde Afolabi, Professor Ajayi announced that only nine of the 165 students graduating at the event were self-sponsored.

According to him, the others were the first beneficiaries of the continuation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the university and the 33 local government areas of the state for full sponsorship of five indigenes for admission to Tech-U – which Makinde renewed in 2019.

“Others are equally the first beneficiaries of the Josephus Foundation scholarship instituted by the chancellor, which is a purely merit-based competitive one open to all Part 1 students,” he added.

While intimating the governor with some of the challenges inhibiting the university’s operations, Professor Ajayi said the absence of a governing council had taken a toll on the functionalities of the university.

The term of the last governing council lapsed on March 8, 2022.

Ajayi noted further that inadequacy of infrastructure had limited the number of students the university can admit, and had in turn limited the internally generated revenue.

He also appealed to the visitor to facilitate access to the capital grant of N1 billion approved in the 2023 appropriation bill for, among others, the construction of a befitting Health Centre, purchase of laboratory and workshop equipment as well as vehicles.