In this interview with BANKOLE TAIWO, the Rector, Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa, Dr. Abiodun Oluseye, reflects on the institution’s 20-year transformation, the challenges facing polytechnic education, the impact of NELFUND, and why greater investment in technical education is vital to Nigeria’s development
Two decades after the polytechnic was established, how will you describe the experience and will you say that the goals of establishing the institution are being met?
We thank God Almighty. Well, initially it was rough from some of the stories that I had to listen to when I became the third substantive rector of the institution. It’s been very, very rough before we got to where we are now but everybody can see that the school has come to stay and by the grace of God, we shall continue to grow from strength to strength.
At inception, the school started with 52 students, two departments and 36 members of staff but 20 years after, the school now has 38 departments, 51 courses with over 10,000 students population and 329 teaching and non-teaching staff. The institution’s growth trajectory has been quite inspiring and encouraging.
You have been in the saddle of power for close to three years now. What difference has your administration made in moving the polytechnic forward?
