The Governing Council Chairman of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igboora, Prof. Lateef Sanni has revealed that his dream is for OYSCATECH to become a university in ten years’ time.
Prof. Sanni gave this revelation at a meeting with the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye on Wednesday, August 6, 2020.
The OYSCATECH Governing Council Chairman pledged his commitment and that of members to the actualization Government’s mission and the rule of law as well as his readiness to work with all stakeholders towards achieving success.
Prof. Sanni also appealed for the prompt release of capital grants to tertiary institutions in order to boost infrastructural facilities for efficient teaching and learning.
While addressing the meeting, the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye called on the newly constituted Governing Councils to be innovative, study the laws and regulations, powers and financial regulations guiding their various institutions and act within the laws, in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Barr. Olaleye appealed to the Councils to ensure harmonious relationship with all stakeholders within and outside the institution.
He enjoined them to avoid all forms of illegality and remain committed to what would bring growth and development to tertiary institutions in the State.
The commissioner posited that Covid-19 has brought a paradigm shift in the learning process such that students have to learn through online and school on air.
According to him, “online has become a way of life such that students can take lectures, examinations and assignments online irrespective of their location.”
The commissioner called on tertiary institutions in the State to follow the new line of thinking by maximizing the information, communication and technology (ICT) and the E-learning method that has become the order of the day.
He appealed to the councils to think of the development that they could bring into tertiary institutions above material gains.
“As community leaders, you should be able to solve the various problems confronting your respective tertiary institutions,” he said.
The commissioner also charged the institutions to train their students to become employable graduates as he assured that discussions are on the way on the prompt release of capital grants.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Bamidele Atere welcomed the governing council chairmen and members into the service of Oyo State Government.
She hinted that the appointment of the governing councils and members was a call to serve.
Mrs. Atere asked the governing councils to see themselves as a working partner to the management of their respective institutions and avoid being antagonists.
She pledged the readiness of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to work with the governing councils.
The Governing Council Chairman of Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Dr. Ogunwale Ogundiran and his counterparts from Emmanuel Alayande, Oyo, and Oyo State College of Education Lanlate, took their turn to pledge their readiness to bring speedy development to their institutions.