IN the phrases of Nelson Mandela, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’ This saying knowledgeable the institution of the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, previously referred to as Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora, established in 2006. The establishment was established by Oyo State authorities as a way to sort out drudgery in agriculture and supply the center stage manpower wanted for agriculture. Towards altering the narrative when it comes to youth unemployment and absence of manpower in agriculture, the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora was saddled with the mandate of turning into a number one centre of excellence in agriculture, expertise and administration by the coaching of youths for innovation, self-sufficiency and meals manufacturing.   The establishment, which commenced educational actions in 2008, has churned out hundreds of graduates who’ve been uncovered to farm follow, ability acquisition and entrepreneurship coaching along with their major educational programmes.

The query agitating the minds of people who find themselves nonetheless doubtful whether or not the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igboora, has really morphed right into a polytechnic can merely be attributed to the phrase ‘college’ which remains to be conspicuously seen within the title of the establishment. Without any equivocation, the establishment which was previously referred to as Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora modified its nomenclature from monotechnic to polytechnic by the inclusion of expertise within the title of the establishment since 2014. The inclusion of ‘technology’ within the title of the establishment little question conferred the polytechnic standing on it, coupled with the modification of the legislation establishing the establishment by the Oyo State House of Assembly, and it was assented by the previous governor of Oyo State, the late Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi in November 21, 2014. The establishment additionally gained the approval of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), a physique that superintends over polytechnics and monotechnics in Nigeria. Having utilized for the approval of the NBTE since 2014, the establishment lastly acquired the approval in October 11, 2018 following the inspection verification go to of the NBTE in August 2018 for eight new programmes.

With the NBTE approval, OYSCATECH floated mechanical engineering, laptop engineering, accountancy, enterprise administration, public administration, statistics and horticultural expertise along with the 21 present programmes a few of that are science laboratory expertise, dwelling and rural economics, forestry, fishery expertise, laptop science, agriculture and bio-environmental engineering expertise and different agricultural programmes. As a polytechnic, the establishment which couldn’t profit from the Tertiary Education Trust fund  (TETFUND) as a consequence of its former standing as a monotechnic has now joined the listing of the beneficiaries of Tetfund by the assist obtained for employees coaching, infrastructural growth and analysis. Special due to the Oyo State authorities for appointing credible leaders reminiscent of Prof. Gabriel Olaoye Farinu, Prof. Gbemiga Adewale, Mr. Isiaka Adekunle and different workforce members who labored around the clock for the establishment to be the place it’s right now. These leaders and different previous principal officers of the establishment have written their names in gold for his or her constructive contributions to the event of OYSCATECH.

With the hassle of those nice leaders, the establishment boasts of services for coaching and analysis reminiscent of poultry pen, engineering workshops, piggery, fish farm, cattle kraal, feed mill, sheep and goats pen and the ICT centre which served as the one CBT centre in Ibarapa cities for over 9 years till 2023.  By and enormous, within the final 17 years of existence of OYSCATECH, the actions of establishment was characterised by intensive coaching, employees growth, partnership, collaborations with native, nationwide and worldwide businesses a few of which embody; Michigan State University, USA, Niji Farm, Psaltery International, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta(Funaab) by Cassava Adding Value for Africa section I & II, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), University of Ibadan by CORAF/WECARD built-in fish farming venture, sponsored by the world financial institution, for farmers and secondary faculty college students in Ibarapa, USAID/Winrock International Farmer-Farmer bee-keeping coaching for farmers in Ibarapa and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and amongst others.

The collaborative efforts of the OYSCATECH as a polytechnic has made graduates of the establishment who’re all for additional research in universities to be one of many first to be reckoned with. The alumni of the establishment who’re doing effectively within the trade are different sources of delight to the establishment. Reports from trade really revealed that employers jostle for graduates of OYSCATECH as a consequence of their stage of publicity to sensible coaching. The polytechnic has continued to carry out its tripartite function of coaching, analysis and neighborhood service, most particularly by taking part within the coaching of FADAMA Guys, contributors on the Oyo State Agricultural Initiative (OYSAI), people, youths and company organisations. The establishment shouldn’t be solely doing effectively in agricultural coaching however can also be making its debut in technological coaching and administration. Recently, the establishment obtained accreditation certificates of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) for National Diploma  in Accountancy, whereas college students in Engineering are usually not left behind in ability acquisition.

OYSCATECH stays dedicated to capability constructing, which is made doable by the efforts of the establishment lecturers and technical personnel. For occasion, the polytechnic which boasted of two PhD holders at inception now has almost 40 PhD holders. The questions that readily involves thoughts is, is OYSCATECH a polytechnic or a college?

Sustaining the Legacies; OYSCATECH Today

On December 14, 2022, the baton of management of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology,Igboora fell on a brand new set of Management underneath the ready management of a Professor of Industrial Chemistry, Prof. Akinola Kehinde Akinlabi a local of Igboora, Oyo State.

Until his appointment, Prof. Akinlabi has served in varied capacities on the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in addition to within the trade.

On assumption of workplace, the rector, Prof. Akinlabi acknowledged the efforts of the founding fathers of the establishment and pledged his dedication to the development of the establishment in coaching, analysis, neighborhood growth, Staff and Students welfare and to the fulfilment of the establishment’s imaginative and prescient and mission.

Committed to his promise, throughout the first 5 months in workplace, the welding and fabrication unit was resuscitated on the school of Engineering and the unit undertook the fabrication and restore of collapsed 800 Seater Hall iron seats stands. Similarly, the Wheel Balancing and Alignment unit was set-up on the school of Engineering, whereas plans are underway to additionally set-up vulcanizing unit on the school. While the Entrepreneurship dealt with the upholstery work of the 600 broken or lacking seats and again rests on the 800 seater corridor.

Also, throughout the first month in workplace, the brand new administration procured and put in the stolen transformer supplies (feeder pillar and amour cable). In addition, the restore of leaking roof at Home and Rural economics and Administrative buildings had been undertaken.

For sustainable agricultural manufacturing in crop and livestock, the Rector met with all the normal rulers in Ibarapa central native authorities and different stakeholders to resolve the land issues which had prevented the establishment from embarking on giant scale industrial farming and these issues have been resolved besides within the space of compensation to land homeowners which requires the efforts of the State to carry the problem to a logical conclusion. The conventional rulers counseled the Oyo State Government over the appointment Prof. Akinlabi and different administration workforce as they promised to assist the establishment as they’ve carried out up to now.  However, the obtainable land of as much as 26 acres has been cultivated.

Moreover, as a way to fulfil his dream for around the season manufacturing of broilers and egg; between January and March, 2023, chicks had been purchased, reared and offered whereas pullets (laying birds) have been procured for the fixed provide of protein to the school neighborhood and igboora atmosphere. Similarly, as at January, the full capability of pigs stood at 71 for all classes, however as at March, 2023, six extra pigs have been procured for farrowing. This reveals that the brand new administration is dedicated to rising the manufacturing capability of each livestock and plantation farming system within the faculty.

Between twenty second and twenty sixth May the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology performed host to the National Board for Technical Education for the accredited of the next programs; useful resource accreditation of National Diploma in Civil Engineering, Electrical Electronics Engineering and Food Technology. Others are Higher National Diploma in Accountancy, Public Administration and Business Administration coupled with the complete accreditation of National Diploma in Office Technology and Management and Library and Information Studies. The accreditation turned mandatory following the standing of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora as a full-fledged polytechnic. The new administration has launched into the beautification of the establishment by portray of the gate home which has given the establishment a brand new look.

Roadmap to an lively OYSCATECH

According to Prof. Akinlabi, the administration is not going to relent in making certain common accreditation of present programmes whereas new programmes reminiscent of mass communication, buying and provide, Banking and Finance, Industrial and Labour relations and Marketing can be launched.

The Rector who lauded the Oyo State Government underneath the management of Engr. Seyi Makinde for immediate cost of salaries and for capturing the shortfall in wage cost pledged his unresolved dedication to the welfare of Staff and Students within the space of coaching and retraining and provision of beneficial working atmosphere. As a part of his plans for the establishment, the rector plans to supply intensive sensible and qualitative coaching by the re-introduction of farm follow to all classes of scholars, regardless of their programme of examine in addition to entrepreneurship coaching. Prof. Akinlabi additionally plans to keep up self-discipline amongst college students by collaborating with related departments and businesses.

The Rector in his roadmap documentation plans to make sure enchancment of analysis laboratories by practical tools, furnishing of lecture rooms with projectors and employees places of work related workplace tools. Prof. Akinlabi additionally pledges to maintain the cordial relationship with the host neighborhood, along with the supply of agric merchandise to the neighborhood. The rector revealed that the polytechnic will therefore forth relate analysis outcomes to the neighborhood by the agricultural extension division.

Prof. Akinlabi additionally revealed that efforts are being intensified for the establishment to have an adopted village for the demonstration of her findings and in reaching out to communities. The new administration are equally intensifying efforts at bettering the internally generated income of the establishment. By and enormous, the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora underneath the brand new dispensation plans to place the next in place;   impartial solar energy supply that can assist uninterrupted educating, analysis and sensible actions, provision of digital metrological station to reinforce climate information assortment and climate forecast for educating, analysis and growth of grasp plan for farm and infrastructure allocations.

Others are common upkeep and repairs of infrastructures, institution of greenhouse for the polytechnic for educating, analysis and as supply of internally generated income (IGR).  growth The administration additionally plans to develop an illustration farm with irrigation system to spice up Agricultural coaching and collaboration with related businesses for additional beautification of the atmosphere and common sanitation of the polytechnic environment by planting of timber which can even function wind breaker to the buildings, along with the supply of waste bin with sustainable waste disposal technique, modification of curricula to accommodate extra sensible and entrepreneurship programs, partaking college students’ counsellors and employees advisers on college students’ attitudinal change, making certain college students’ industrial coaching and subject journeys in direction of related areas of examine and creation of reward store and present room to showcase and promote the establishment merchandise.

Without mincing phrases, Prof. Akinola Akinlabi led new administration, stays dedicated to the development  of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora and to maintain the labour of the previous heros by the varied developmental plan. One can solely pray the nice plans come to fruition.

• Olawore is Public Relations Officer, OYSCATECH.

READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE