YABATECH rector tasks counterparts on nation’s technological growth

Rector of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr. Magret Ladipo, has charged her counterparts in other polytechnics across the country on the need to brace-up to the challenge of making a meaningful impact on the nation’s drive towards technological growth and rapid industrialisation.
Ladipo gave this charge in her welcome address at the 133rd regular meeting of the Council of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria (COHEADS) which was held at the institution’s Multipurpose Hall recently.
The Rector said this can be achieved by encouraging scholarship among the staff and students as well as establishing academic fellowships with established institutions and research centres across the globe.
According to her, students should also be encouraged to aspire for academic excellence by adequately rewarding outstanding performance and can also be more creative and innovative through sponsorship of their technical, vocational and entrepreneurial initiatives by corporate bodies.
“My distinguished colleagues, as we confront the challenges of the 21st century, I want to assure you that Yaba College of Technology is well positioned to provide competency based technical vocational and entrepreneurial education for the production of graduates relevant to the needs of the economy and the technological development of our nation”, she said.
Ladipo noted that the last time the College hosted COHEADS was in September, 2011, adding that it is therefore a rare privilege to have the opportunity to host the Council again almost five years after.
President of the National Association of Polytechnic Students, Comrade Adeyeye Gbenga, at the meeting spoke on the dichotomy between HND and BSc certificates, saying this can be addressed at entry level through critical examination of entry requirement into both institutions.
He said since the pre-requisite for universities are most strict compared to that of polytechnics, there should be strict adherence for parity at entry level for both University and Polytechnic by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
He also spoke on internal mechanism to address sexual harassment in the polytechnic sector which he claimed has assumed a disgraceful and disheartening dimension.
“Sex work unfortunately has become a key pre-requisite to pass courses on most campuses. Ladies are to go down to bed with lecturers to have a pass while guys on the other hand are to arrange ‘Aristos’ to do the sex work or risk coming the following year to observe the same process”.
“We therefore call for the implementation of internal mechanism that will protect whistle blowers such as distress numbers, complain boxes, counsel and guidance for students to open up harassment, preferably anonymously to due to victimization and intimidation from reported culprits”, he said.
Other suggestions from the association president include establishment of independent democratic students’ union government and financial autonomy for national body, polytechnic stakeholders,’ conference and establishment of commercial technical workshops in all polytechnics.