The Acting Governor of Oyo State, Barrister Adebayo Abdul-Raheem Lawal, has charged graduating students of Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa, to combine their academic certificates with strong character, integrity, and discipline as they prepare to face the challenges of the labor market.
Lawal gave the charge on Friday during the institution’s combined convocation ceremony, where thousands of students across different faculties were officially conferred with National and Higher National Diplomas as well as Fellowships.
The second combined convocation ceremony covered the academic sessions of 2021/2022, 2022/2023, and 2023/2024.
Addressing the graduands, the Acting Governor stressed that while academic achievements are vital, they must be complemented with moral strength and creativity to ensure long-term success.
“Today, you have earned your certificates through years of academic rigour and perseverance. But as you step out into the labor market, remember that your certificate alone cannot sustain you.
“Take along with it your character, discipline, creativity, and integrity, because employers and society at large value these qualities even more,” he said.
Lawal further emphasized the importance of technology, ICT development, and vocational skills in driving the state’s growth, noting that education must remain holistic to meet global standards.
The Acting Governor also reaffirmed the Makinde-led administration’s commitment to advancing technical and vocational education in Oyo State.
He assured that the government will continue to support tertiary institutions through funding, infrastructural upgrades, and policies targeted at boosting accreditation of courses and regularization of part-time workers.
“In the area of accreditation, the government has been engaging this polytechnic to ensure that requirements are met for seamless national accreditation of courses.
“On part-time staff regularization, the government is adopting a holistic approach to ensure their employment status is addressed permanently in due time,” Lawal explained.
The Acting governor reminded the graduates that true success in life goes beyond certificates stressing the need for them to be creative and committed to pursuing their dreams.
“Even if you hold the best certificate, underpinning success in life is character. Carry both your certificate and character along, and success will surely be yours,” he declared.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Rector of Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Dr Olugbade Akinteye, appreciated the Oyo State Government for its consistent support for the institution.
Dr Akinteye, who highlighted the achievements of the institution in the last three academic years said the school has witnessed tremendous growth and progress under the Makinde led administration.
He said the school was in 2024 ranked third best polytechnic in Nigeria by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) during the National Tertiary Admission Performance Merit Award.
He added that under the three years under view, the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) has also accredited both existing and new courses noting that academic programs such as Estate Management and Valuation, Marketing, Accountancy, Public Administration, and Fashion Design & Clothing Technology were not available at the Higher National Diploma (HND) level, but are all currently available for studies.
While appealing for more support from the government in terms of practical steps to regularize appointments of existing part-time staff of the institution to bolster its workforce, he stressed that the affected personnel have dedicated themselves to work faithfully for many years.
Assuring that the school management will remain committed to striving for greater achievements in academics and excellence, he urged the graduands to uphold the values of the institution and be worthy ambassadors wherever they go.
Some of the graduands also expressed gratitude to the polytechnic management and the government for providing them with the platform to excel academically while pledging to live up to the Acting Governor’s counsel.
Prince Adeyinka Afonja, Chairman of Ace Mall, who was among the honorees for his supportive role over the years, made a donation of a sum of 10 million to the school for its infrastructural and solar system upgrade. He equally commended governor Makinde for being a visionary leader and providing enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
The well-attended ceremony featured traditional rulers including the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola, Commissioners for Education, Science and Technology as well as Information and Orientation; Hon. Segun Olayiwola and Prince Dotun Oyelade, other top state and local government officials and alumni of the institution.