The Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State on Friday matriculated fresh students who were recently admitted into various departments of the institution.
The Polytechnic’s Rector, Dr. John Adekolawole, in his powerful and thought-provoking address congratulated the new students and their parents, charging them to be focus, studious and law abiding.
Below is his address:
On behalf of the Polytechnic Governing Council, the Academic Board, the Management, Staff and our staylite Students, Students of this great Institution for the 2020/2021 academic session. The Matriculation of fresh students for this academic session is coming up at this period due to the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Let me, at this juncture, congratulate the matriculants as well as all our guests, parents, guardians, friends and well-wishers who are here today to felicitate with the matriculating students for being alive to witness today in sound health through the grace of the Almighty God.
May His grace continue to abound in our
lives , I warmly welcome you all to the 27th Matriculation Ceremony for fresh students, which is a time-honoured tradition, it is an annual ceremony of initiation, where the Rector formally admits fresh men and women as bona-fide members into the Polytechnic Community.
Matriculation confers on fresh students, full membership of the Polytechnic upon
the fulfilment of all the necessary admission requirements. Today, every fresh students that participated fully by swearing to the Oath of Admission and signing the Matriculation Register is entitled to all rights and privileges recognized by the Polytechnic authority.
Such rights include but not limited to: inclusion of the students in the Polytechnic Register, obtaining Polytechnic identity Cards, living in the Students’ Hostel, right to use the Polytechnic Library, participation in Student Union activities etc.
Permit me to also reiterate that as full members of the Polytechnic community, it is part of your responsibilities to maintain law and order, pay your school fees and other levies promptly, protect the Polytechnic properties and respect the rights of your fellow students.
I want to state that a total of 7,904 candidates applied to study in this institution through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) during the 2020/2021 Academic session.
At the end of the admission process, only 1,266 applicants, representing 16%, were given admission into National Diploma (ND) Ful-time Programme.
Also, 3,901 candidates were admitted to the Daily Part-time (DPT) Programmes while 1,745 were admitted to the Regular Part-time (RPT) Programmes. For the Higher National Diploma (HND) Full-time Programmes, candidates applied for admission and only 1,280 candidates were admitted, while 556 candidate were admitted out of 665 candidates who applied into Higher National Diploma Part-time (ND PT) Programme.
The Federal Polytechnic, Ede would continue to comply fully with the Federal Government policy of 70:30 ratio of students’ intake in favour of Science, Technology and Engineering to Business/Arts related courses.
To enhance this policy, the Management has resolved to introduce additional new programmes purely in Science, Technology and Engineering oriented courses.
I want to assure this gathering that by the special grace of Almighty God I am certain that we will be welcoming new students into the under listed programmes next academic year:
National Diploma in Insurance Technology
National Diploma in Public Administration
National Diploma in Dental Technology
National Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning
National Diploma in Arts and Design
National Diploma in Mechatronics
National Diploma in Mining Technology
National Diploma in Agricultural Mechanization
National Diploma in Mass Communication
National Diploma in Audio Visual Technology and Multimedia
National Diploma in Cinematography
Higher National Diploma in Pharmaceutical Technology
Higher National Diploma in Chemical Engineering Technology
Higher National Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics
Higher National Diploma in Surveying and Geo-Informatics
Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
Higher National Diploma in Library and Information Science
May I also use this medium to inform you that all our programmes are duly accredited and effective from this Academic Session, the Polytechnic runs a structure of eight (8) Schools made up
of 43 full-fledged departments viz:
(1) School of Applies Sciences: (i) Computer Science
(ii) Nutrition and Dietetics (ii) Statistics
(iv) Geological Technology (v) Hospitality Management (vi) Leisure & Tourism Management
(2) School of Science and Technology: (i) Science Laboratory Technology (i) Biological Sciences
() Chemical Sciences and Technology
(iv) Bio-Chemical Science (v) Physics
(3) School of General Studies: (i) Languages (i) Social Development (ii) Crime Management
(4) School of Communication and Information Science: (i) Office Technology and Management
(i) Mass Communication and Media Technology (ii) Library and Information Sciences of Business Studies:
(iti) Banking and Finance
(1) Accountancy (1) Business Administration and Management
(lv) Marketing
(v) Insurance (vi)
Taxation
(vil) Public Administration
(6) School of Engineering Technology:
(1) Electrical/Electronic
Engineering
Civil Engineering
(ii) Mechanical Engineering (v) Mechatronics (v) Computer Engineering
(vi) Chemical Engineering Technology
(vi) Agriculture and Blo-Environmental Engineering Technology
(vii) Welding and Fabrication
Engineering (7) School of Environmental Studies: (1) Architectural Technology (i) Building Technoogy
(i) Quantity Surveying (iv) Surveying and Geo-Informatics
(v) Fashion & Textile Design
Technology (vi) Estate Management (vil) Urban and Regional Planning
(vii) Art and Design
(8) School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology: (0) Horticulture and Landscape
(i) Agricultural Technology (ii) Animal Production and Health Technology
Also, the Institution runs two campuses, namely South Campus and North Campus. While South Campus plays host to Schools of Environmental Studies, Engineering Technology and Agriculture & Agricultural Technology, the North Campus on the other hand hosts Schools of Applied Sciences, Science& Technology, Business Studies, School of Communication & Information Science and General Studies.
Be informed that effective arrangements have been put in place towards improving the existing transportation of students between the North and South Campuses.
We are trying our possible best on our target of providing suitable and affordable accommodation to a larger percentage of our students, we equally want to appeal and solicit for private partnership in this area from philanthropists, property developers, eminent and well-meaningful Nigerians.
Let me say at this point that a comparative analysis of School Fees paid in other Institutions around shows that our Institution’s prescribed fees are about the lowest. This is aimed at ensuring that Indigent students are not denied the opportunity to having qualitative higher education with the present economic situation in the country.
You are therefore implored to reciprocate this good gesture and work in harmony with the Management so that the academic calendar that had been drawn up for 2020/2021 academic year is not disrupted.
It is equally important at this juncture to inform you that the Institution is committed to giving you all round development through its state of the heart Entrepreneurship Development Centre where you can acquire vocational skills in addition to the academic skill you are here to acquire.
The Entrepreneurship Centre is aimed at making you job creators and employer of labour and not job seekers upon your graduation from this Institution. You are therefore implored to avail yourself with the opportunities provided by the Centre.
I wish to admonish today’s matriculants to shun all social vices i.e. riot, looting, arson, cultism, disobedience, examination malpractices, drug abuse, drunkenness, cheating, disrespect for constituted authorities, indecent dressing etc.
You should all try to maintain and sustain the peace you met on campus. Do not be delighted in turning the Campus into a jungle’; you should respect the sanctity of the Polytechnic community as a civilized community.
For your information, the Polytechnic will not treat with kid gloves any threat to campus peace. The Polytechnic detests cheating in examination in any form and would not hesitate to take immediate action on such matter.
Also cultism is an aberration in this Polytechnic, in your own interest you are
advised to be of good behavior throughout your studentship. Furthermore, you are enjoined not to turn the campus into a centre of fashion parade, as the Institution has dress codes which must be adhered to by all bona fide students.
I know you have been adequately briefed on these and the penalties/punishments attached during the one-week long Orientation programme.
The Polytechnic authorities believes in the assertion that ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. It is in this vein that sports and recreational activities were recognized as spring boards for sound mind and body, which is a pre-requisite for maximum achlevement in acquisition of knowledge and skills in our various programmes of study.
The Polytechnic promotes participation
of students in sporting activities and gives premium to students’ participation in National and International Competitions like NIPOGA and WAPOGA.
The Polytechnic also have series of Sporting Competitions i.e. Rector’s Cup,
Deans’ Cup, HOD’s Cup, SUL Cup etc which you can participate in so that as you study you can relax.
It is important to inform you that students that excel while representing the institution in either National or International competitions are adequately rewarded, you are therefore charged to channel your abundant energy, skills and power to a more productive activities that can lead to growth and development of the Institution.
The Polytechnic laid great emphasis on character building. Character is viewed as the corner stone of individuals’ greatness. Character is to a man what fly wheel is to an engine.
Character is the standard of human progress, when a person has lost his/her character all is lost. Deficiencies in the character of students breed most of the vices that lead to frequent closure of
Institutions.
Our motto is ‘Knowledge, Skill and Character’. It is therefore, our desire to imprint these virtues on every product of this institution; we therefore implore parents to join hands with us in developing the character component of the students.
May I reiterate that our desire to promote academic and technological excellence and to promote healthy competitions among our students informed the establishment of scholarship for Polytechnic Scholars and Ede Indigene Scholars in various Department of this institution.
The award offered beneficiaries scholarship for an academic session which entails exemption from payment of prescribed fees and free hostel accommodation. I am imploring the matriculants to key into this opportunity.
The value of the knowledge, skill and character, which the Institution strive to imbibe into all the students that passes through the Institution is been attested to by employers of labour through the feedback we received from them, in respect of the performance of our diplomats working in industries and parastatals
I, therefore assure you that you have made the right choice to study at the Federal Polytechnic Ede, and I have no doubt that by the time you completed your respective programmes, you would have also acquired the knowledge, skill and character that would make you not only responsible to yourself but to the society at large.
The Institution has a robust communication. Students are encouraged to follow this pattern. You can lodge all complaints to your Course Advisers, Heads of Departments, Deans of Schools or other higher level Officers, especially the Dean of Students’ Affairs.
On no occasion should any student take laws into his/her hands, as ignorance is not an excuse in the court of law.
Insecurity is one of the major problems in our society today. It is stifling our economic development and threatening our nationhood. Therefore, we should all be security conscious and vigilant. Report any suspicious person(s) or incident(s) that could threaten the security of lives and property. I implore you not to allow yourselves to be used by anyone or any group to threaten the security of others.
Likewise, I want to enjoin you to cooperate with the security unit and its personnel in its efforts at safeguarding lives and properties and maintenance of law and order on campuses.
Next to insecurity is the challenges of managing academic activities safely amidst the growing threat of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
The current wave is more contagious
and deadly than the previously known variant. Hence, in the fight against the virus and to limit its transmission everyone needs to take certain responsibility by adhering strictly to all safety precautions- wearing of nose masks, keeping safe distance, frequent hand-washing under running water and sanitization of the hands and avoidance of closed or poorly ventilated spaces and to inoculate ourselves against the virus.
May I also inform this Polytechnic congregation and authority, in addition to the safety and precautionary measures in place, we are making necessary moves with appropriate agencies to ensure that all our students who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine are vaccinated during the up-coming second phase of the national vaccination campaign.
Moreover, for effective teaching and learning in the wake of the pandemic, the Polytechnic has resulted to blended teaching and learning process which combination of e-classroom learning platform and normal in-person instructional methods.
Before I end my address, I would like to sincerely acknowledge and appreciate the Governing Council of this Polytechnic for their commitment and dogged determination in the bid to promote the general welfare of the Institution and to
make it the best in which to study.
Permit me to add that the Council, is under the leadership of Air-Commodore Emmanuel Jekada (Rtd.) mni, an indomitably energetic and tested scholar, who nave handled allied assignments successfully with applause.
Therefore, I am no doubt convinced
that this Council would bring about the deserving growth and development to make “FEDPOLYEDE” a force to reckon with among the community of Polytechnics globally.
I wish to give glory to God for graciously answering our prayers with these ‘men and women of timber and caliber at this
time. My gratitude also goes to the Visitor to the Polytechnic, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR and the Honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu for all their efforts towards promoting vocational and technical education.
To our Matriculants, as you pass through this great Institution, you should also allow the Institution to pass through you so that you can be good Ambassadors of the Polytechnic and a proud member of the Alumni Association as well as responsible citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
You should always remember that everything you want in life has a price connected to it. There is a price to pay if you want to make things better and a price to pay for leaving things as they are.
On this note, I want to thank all our guests so here present at this ceremony, most especially the parents, guardians and gentlemen of the press, your presence here today has added more glamour to the occasion.
I wish you journey mercies back to your various destinations, and to the matriculants, it is my prayer that you all complete your programmes in flying colours.
Once more, accept my congratulations on your admission. I thank you all for your patience and attention.
