The Soun of Ogbomosoland His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III has thrown down a daunting challenge to the management of the Federal Polytechnic Ayede to create an unbeatable standard that will see the institution transform into a university in no distance time. Also, he dropped by at the palace of Iresapa HIs Royal Majesty Oba Moses Olayiwola Ajiboye.

The monarch threw this challenge Friday during a visit to the institution at its temporary site at Iresapa in Surulere local government area.

The traditional ruler according to his Special Assistant on Media and Community Relations Peter Olaleye stressed that the kind of foundation laid and the system created by pioneer leaders are pivotal and go a long way in determining the greatness of an institution or organisation.

Oba Olaoye who said he is always proud of his alma mater the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, because of not only its academic excellence but also due to its aesthetic layout and architectural design which he credited to the kind of leadership enacted by its pioneer Vice Chancellor Professor Oluwasanmi, emphasized that Engr Dr Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed, the Rector of Ayede Polytechnic, is on the cusp of history and his leadership style will tell hugely on the posterity of the institution.
 

 

The Soun accompanied by the Alajaawa of Ajaawa HRM Oba Thompson Oyetunji Adeyeye and his chiefs remarked the polytechnic appears older while expressing willingness it would be turned into a university within the shortest possible time. He therefore stressed for the umpteenth time that all lies with the leadership quality just as he clamoured for consideration of employment opportunities for Ogbomoso indigenes.

“I thought the polytechnic has been much older, it is indeed older than what it is. So, l congratulate the Rector for where you are. But there is one thing l said to you, one of the things that made the University of Ife (which l attended) different from others is the foundation that was laid by Prof Oluwasanmi and the vision he had for the university. So, the layout and the high level of education displayed is what makes the university becomes very notable.

“And the way anything goes in this world, it starts with leadership. So, if you see a great institution or nation it starts with leadership. Whether organisation or institution, it is the leadership that decides its posterity. As here, the leadership starts from the Rector, it is the foundation you lay that everyone will follow and build on.

“So, what l want to enjoin you is let’s set a great standard, in terms of infrastructure, in terms of education, in terms of the culture of this school. Pioneering has a great opportunity to set a great standard. I want to enjoin you the Rector that you set a great standard for this school that those who will come after you will be challenged continuously by the standard you set.

“That is what l found out about the University of Ife because everybody talks about the University not really about academic but because of the layout of the University and system they put in place. And l feel that you can set such standard so that people who will come after you will always talk about when Engr Taofeek was here.”

The monarch assured on assistance towards making the institution great as he stated, “‘We will try our best on whatever assistance to help to make sure this school becomes a great school and not only a great school but to become a University very soon. The standard you set will definitely make this place a University and those of us who are here will always look back that it’s the standard you built, the labour that you laboured for this institution that is the only reason this Poly has become a University.

“So, l want to congratulate you. But what l will end up saying is that there is still a lot to be done concerning this school and in also changing the image of this school that it will start catering for the indigenes henceforth. I do not get feelers from the people that Ayede caters for the indigenes in terms of employment opportunities. Begin to work on this, let the percentage increase.”

The Rector Engr Abdul-Hameed thanked the Oba assuring a strong institution is being built.

He commended the people of Ogbomoso for the various assistance rendered by various individuals and organisations to make the polytechnic what it is presently while narrating the story of how it took off and the vision they have.

In the meantime the Oba and his entourage also paid courtesy visit to Aresa Iresapa HIs Royal Majesty Oba Moses Olayiwola Ajiboye. The Soun however promised to pay proper visit to the revered Iresa monarch.

He thereafter proceeded to the permanent site of the Polytechnic at Ayede in Ogo-Oluwa local government.