By Oyewale Oyelola
In 2014, the people of Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, received the news of the establishment of a federal polytechnic in their town by Federal Government under the leadership of Goodluck Jonathan with mixed feeling. Some people were skeptical about the establishment of the institution due to poor funding and other challenges facing existing federal universities and polytechnics nationwide.
Others, however, received the news with joy as they believed the new development will bring development to the ancient town. The elders of Ile-Oluji as a sign of commitment to the project allotted massive land along Ondo Road in the town to the polytechnic.
Four months after the establishment of the school, the Federal Government in March 2015 appointed seasoned a don and sound administrator, Professor Emmanuel Fasakin as Pioneer Rector of the Institution. Fasakin, prior to his appointment, was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of FUTA.
Fasakin, a Professor of Fish Nutrition and Utilization, is a specialist in Fish Nutrition, post-harvest technology, pond management and environmental and aquatic pollution. He was at different times, Head of Department, Dean, Students Affairs, Acting Vice-Chancellor, Member, University Senate, Chairman and Member of several statutory and ad-hoc committees of the Federal University of Technology, Akure.
The Rector used his impressive academic and managerial experience spanning over three decades to hit the ground running to ensure smooth take-off of the polytechnic. His effort resulted to employment of over 100 pioneer staff by Federal Government in October 2015.
The administration of Olusegun Mimiko handed over St. Joseph Mega School, Ile-Oluji, to Management Team of Federal Polytechnic Ile-Oluji as take-off site. The polytechnic also received various donations from some banks, private companies and individuals. These donations without doubt served as morale booster for the school.
Time Nigeria Correspondent, who visited the institution, reports that academic activities commenced in February 2016 with admission of Pre-ND students into five departments– Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Electronics Engineering, Statistics and Accountancy.
Fasakin also appointed Mr Toyese Dahunsi as Acting Director, CeFOLL to coordinates and administers all non-fulltime programmes, including Pre-ND, Part-time and Short-term Training Programmes of the Polytechnic.
Our correspondent learnt the polytechnic will admit Full-time students for 2016/2017 academic session from 2016 UTME by Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The Director of Physical Planning, Prince Oyetunde Oyelola, is using his experience from Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti and Federal University of Technology, Akure by allotting the scarce resources to students and staff for smooth running of the school.
The Director has designed the Master Plan for the polytechnic and working round the clock with other staff to put necessary infrastructure in place.
Without doubt Federal Polytechnic Ile-Oluji in the coming years will be contributing to national development by training engineers and other technical experts needed for technological advancement of Nigeria.
The Federal Government should therefore release adequate fund for prompt development of the permanent site of the school in order to operate at its full potentials.
