The National President ,Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti Alumni Association , Dr Oyedokun Abiodun has charged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the challenge of inadequate hostels facilities in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony of a two blocks of hostels donated by the association to the Polytechnic, Dr Abiodun argued that the dearth of hostels accommodation was impacting negatively in the various aspects of the students lives. He therefore admonished stakeholders to rise to the occasion and address the challenge.
Dr Abiodun used the ocassion to intimate the management about another two storey 32- room hostels project being undertaken by the Alumni Associationn and named after the one time Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council and former governor of Kano State Abudullahi Ganduje .
At the ceremony attended by top management team of the Polytechnic,including the Rector, Dr. Temitope John Alake, the Alumni President said the gesture was to support the institution in its quest to making lives more abundant to the teaming students population.
Specifically, Abiodun lamented that the institution was challenged with limited hostels facilities to take care of the large population of students who are currently attending various programmes .
“The government cannot do this alone, they need our support and this is why the amended Federal Polytechnic Act of 2019 recognised Alumni as an integral part of the highest policy making body (Governing Council) in the Polytechnic.
” Today, 24th of January 2024 will forever remain remarkable as a Two Blocks of hostel will be handed over to the Management of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti for students’ use through the Rector, Dr. Temitope John Alake, an Alumnus”.
Abiodun said “accommodation crisis has been a general problem in most public Tertiary Institution in Nigeria, this crisis has become a pervasive issue, leading to a significant number of students being unable to reside on campus. The problem significantly impacts these non-resident students, affecting not only their academic pursuits but also various aspects of their lives.
“The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti is not an exemption in this situation because of the limited number of hostels to take care of the large population of students in various programmes.
“The National Executive Committee of this Association considered the plight of students and made a clarion call to members for assistance towards building of hostels to support the School in solving accommodation problem on our Campus.
“Our Prayer is that our dear President, Bola Tinubu should consider this our gesture by causing the appropriate agencies to give our alma mater the needed support to have more hostels.
“Generally, I want to through this medium appeal to our President Bola Tinubu to please look more into the Polytechnic Education for technological advancement. The creation of National Polytechnic Commission, provision of more fund and the kind Assent of Mr President “.Abiodun.
Earlier in his remarks, Dr. Alake who appreciated the leadership of the Alumni association also acknowledged their loyalty and patriotism.
The Rector urged the leadership of other associations in the institution to borrow a leaf from the Alumni’s good gestures .