Former Students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, an institution reputed to be the citadel of academic excellence on Wednesday converged in Ibadan to chat better future for the institution which they left many years ago.
Tagged the Assembly of Old Campus Kings & Queens of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, the members named the association The Ibadan Polywoood Connect Worldwide’.
The group said its motto would be ‘Supporting the dreams, promoting the friendship’.
In his welcome speech, the Chairman of the occasion also an ex-student of the institution, Mr. Wole Akinleye commended the brains behind the formation of The Ibadan Polywood Connect.
He urged the members to insulate the group from any political interests that could create division amongst the members.
Akinleye said party politics in Nigeria was already becoming a scam which the political elites are using to deceive the populace while surreptitiously meet behind and fraternize on their selfish agenda as against the national interest or societal good.
He called for the enactment of laws that would be binding on all members for the association to become formidable and effective.
In his contribution, the Chairman of the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), also a former student, Ademola Babalola called on the group to be service oriented to the institution by serving as a pressure group that would always be in the forefront of championing greater glory of the institution.
Babalola said the group would do well by always making their voice heard on any salient issues of educational development especially as it relates to the students wellbeing on campuses and off campuses and more importantly, to hold leaders accountable to the students and institution’s management.
Also contributing, the Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, Hon. Yusuf Oludayo said he was highly elated by the formation of the association, assuring them of his regular supports to the group.
A Rotarian and also a former student, Ojo Jimoh; the Dean student Affairs of the institution, Mr. Akinwunmi Makinde and Mr. Olukunle Olaolu appealed to all members to support the institution in restoring its lost glory through regular visitation and contributions towards its future development.
Highlight of the occasion was the nomination of steering committee for the association with Asiwaju Olanrewaju Ganniyu as Chairman while erstwhile
Students’ leaders of the institution like Adeolu Adekunle; Olanike Ajanaku; Ademola Babalola; Hon. Toyese Oyerinde; Hon. Ademola Saheed Oladiimeji; Kolade Fuad Owolabi; Olabiyi Babatunde; Hamzat Ismail and a host of others were honoured with the group’s award of excellence.
Responding on the task before his committee, Ganniyu Olanrewaju said the institution was going down and needed the supports of all and sundry to salvage its sinking ship.
According to the Chairman, ‘The institution is gradually going down in history. We need to do a lot to salvage it. We can achieve so much by coming together in common principle and our names will be etched out in gold as great Ambassadors of The Polytechnic, Ibadan.’
