Dr. Hakeem Goke Rauf has been piloting the affairs of D.S Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic at Itori in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, as Rector of the institution in the past two months.
In this Special Interview with Edu-Biznews' Managing Editor, Abdulfatai Sobande, the thorough bred product of polytechnic education in Nigeria and seasoned Mass Communication Scholar , revealed how he is using his over 40 years experience in the polytechnic system which started from his days as a student of then Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta who later became Head of Department of Mass Communication in the same prestigious institution ( now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta), to transform one of the pioneer ICT Polytechnics in the country to become a tertiary institution to beat in the remaining part of his five-year tenure in office
Excerpt:
EBN: How would you describe the experience so far, since your appointment by the Ogun State Government as Rector of D.S Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, Ewekoro from late August till date ?
Ans: Its been a wonderful experience for me as somebody coming from a tertiary institution system to an institution like D.S Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, which will definitely have its own challenges, its been an experience that could be best described as good, bad and ugly. The challenges are there , the potentials are also there, what we need to do is simply to find ways of resolving the challenges, one after the other. But greater important is the need to tap the potentials for development of the institution. It is a great institution and it has a very strong potential to be greater and we will do everything humanly possible to ensure that the greaterness quote and unquote is achieved within reasonable period of time
EBN : What measures put in place to actualize this huge potentials in terms of completion of the uncompleted physical infrastructure seen across the length and breadth of the campus - What is the agenda of your administration for the uncompleted physical projects?
Ans: Our agenda is not only to complete the uncompleted physical infrastructure but to also bring up new infrastructure that will give the Polytechnic that necessary outlook to carry out its mandate as a Polytechnic. As far as uncompleted infrastructure are concerned, I want to assure you that everything is being done within and outside the State for the development of the Polytechnic, to make things work for the betterment of D.S Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic. We will do our best to get all those uncompleted physical infrastructure completed . We will do our best to get stakeholders to provide more for the development of the institution. We will also ensure that we take advantage of little exposure we have to attract those in the corporate institution to support the growth of the institution as well as national and international organizations to key into our agenda for the development of D.S Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic. The beauty is that this institution is the pioneer ICT Polytechnic in Ogun State, South West Nigeria and the country at large , I'm not aware of any ICT Polytechnic before it . We will live up to the expectations of being a pioneer ICT Polytechnic in Nigeria. Fortunately we are in a world of technology and Information and Telecommunication Technology (ICT) . We are of getting it right, if we are able to source for the right partners . We will get the best for the institution. We are also aware this will take time to actualize the developmental agenda. In the past two months spent here as Rector, we've done a lot moving round, notable individuals and corporate organizations are being approached . I also know there are teams of scholars and business minded who have been approached and ready to partner with us to improve on the facilities on the campus. Let me also assure you that indigenes of Ogun State who are ICT and technologically inclined have developed interest in the school and actually using it as a platform to develop the idea of making Ogun State ICT driven . I pray God to grant us his blessings and mercies for us to achieve these collective objectives. We are not leaving any stone unturned to make the best out of the ICT Polytechnic. For me it is not about today, not about what I want to gain from the school. It is about making impact, it is about paying my dues and contributing my little quota to the development of my state. It is about playing my role to ensure I give back to the system that produced me . For the avoidance of doubt, I'm a Polytechnic product and I've been in the Polytechnic system for over 40 years. I have enough experience, idea and understanding of the way it works running the system. We want to bring all of these to bear on the development of institution. I want to seize this opportunity to appeal to all stakeholders including individuals, corporate organizations and government at different levels to simply give us the needed support to be able to take the Polytechnic to a greater height
EDN: What is your projection for D.S Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic at the end of your five-year tenure as Rector of the institution?
Ans: It is my intention to make D.S Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic to be a Polytechnic to beat in terms of what we can offer and what the Polytechnic offers after I might have left this place as Rector
Please this increase and added a new fees in our dear DS ADEGBENRO POLY it so bad, not a good option for development of school, i saw this as way of punishing
ReplyDeletePoor in the nation. If the school management refuse to reduce and remove the new added fees this will lead to dropping out of many students in the campus .and this so shameful for federal government of ogun state without talk any thing to this increasement. Pls let the poor breath.