From Francis Akinnodi, Ondo
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The Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji (FEDPOLEL), Prof. Emmanuel Adedayo Fasakin has disclosed the determination of the institution to hold its first convocation ceremony at the permanent site early next year.

Fasakin while commending the contractors handling the ongoing construction works at the permanent site situated along Ondo/Ipetu-Ijesa road in Ile-Oluji said the polytechnic is focused to ensure the provision of unhindered teaching and learning in a conducive environment.

According to him, “It is my prayer and with what we have on plan, latest by February next year the first phase should have been completed. Also, we will be having the first convocation ceremony for our pioneer students at the permanent site.

“I am very impressed with the level of work done at the site, like I have said we are building commodious buildings with world class structures. The quality of the construction works are fantastic and laudable; very solid work.

“The contractors are working according to specification. We do not compromise, we have model and so far so good, the work rate is acceptable”.

He recalled that a 150-hectare of  land was approved for use as the Polytechnic permanent site and the Ondo State government issued the Certificate of Occupancy to the management in September 2015.

“And by January 2016, the management undertook the perimeter and topographic survey of the site and came up with a master plan showing the academic area, students’ residential area, administrative area, sporting area and strategic zones for future expansion.

“We opened up the site with construction of accessible road networks. We have what we called the ceremonial road already asphalted. The administrative block with all administrative departments inclusive are under construction as well as the School of Engineering. Also, we have 2 in 1 auditorium near completion.

“When the buildings are completed and commissioned, the Rector and other administrative offices and the Engineering department will all move to the new site, so the February date is visible. Beside that,  the Federal government through i-impact has given us one billion naira worth of infrastructure.

“The government only gave three Polytechnics in Nigeria and as young as we are, we are able to benefit, so it is a great achievement on our part.

“For government to have considered the institution for the i-impact infrastructure project, it will enhance the school development. With the i-impact project, we will have about four more commodious buildings; a very big Engineering workshop that will house all Engineering departments and a School of Agricultural Technology with its workshop”, he said.

Fasakin said the Polytechnic is cited in an entirely and productively agrarian area, meaning that it can lead others in the production of agro-technical manpower which will be sufficiently exposed to existing practices and modern trends in agro-productivity and agro-business.

“We will be focusing on agriculture because Ile-Oluji is an agrarian area and the community must feel our impact. We want to use the institution as a pointer to solving poverty and unemployment problems in Ondo State and Nigeria in general through agriculture; we have the potential and the comparative advantage”, he added.