Splendor at 18th Convocation Ceremony …As FPA Turned Out About 14,000 Graduands of Three Academic Sessions
Although activities marking the 45th Founding Anniversary and the 18th Combined Convocation Ceremony of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, which held amid pomp and pageantry, had since ended, but the memories will linger on for some time to come.
The weeklong events, which started with series of activities reached its peak on Saturday, 19th November, 2022. The unforgettable events will ever remain memorable in the annals of the Institution, which is reputed for technological development and innovations as it witnessed the turn out of the Crème-de-la-crème across Nigeria from both far and wide.
The epic event of the Convocation Ceremony, which turned out about 14,000 HND and ND graduands from three Academic Sessions, was graced by eminent and distinguished personalities from across all works of life.
The Special Guest of Honour at the Convocation Ceremony was Host Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, who was eminently represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. (Mrs.) Habibat Omolara Adubiaro.
Among the eminent personalities that graced the ceremony was the Oonirisa, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, who though could not be physically present sent a powerful contingent of high powered royal delegation to witness the event and received the Fellowship Award bestowed on the number one crown head in Yorubaland on his behalf.
The royalties at the main Convocation event included the Obalufon Alayemore of Efon Alaaye Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Adesanya Aladejare, Agunsoye II who walked in gracefully with his entourage and other royal heads including the Owa Ajero, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adebayo Adewole; His Royal Majesty, Oba Ayodele Adejuwon, the Onishan of Ishan Ekiti and Chairman of Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers.
The Royal Host of the Polytechnic, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, was not left out from the royal splendor, as he was glamorously represented by four top ranking members of the Ewi-in-Council comprising of notable High Chiefs, while the Onimesi of Imesi Ekiti, His Royal Highness, Oba Festus Olutunji Olatunde also added glamour and honour to the historic event as he came in with the Onimesi palace cultural troops, which displayed with dexterity and performed excellently well.
The honoured list at the grandeur 18th Combined Convocation Ceremony also included His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, who was also honoured with the Fellowship of the Polytechnic along with the Ooni and three others including Yeye Aare Modupe Babalola and two Alumnus, Prince (Dr.) Rotimi Ibidapo OON, a renowned business mogul in Oil and Gas drilling and Surv. Babatunde Fakologbon FNIS, the Managing Director of Nielson Nigeria Limited.
It was indeed a joyous occasion for the Alumni duo, as Prince (Dr.) Rotimi Ibidapo was accompanied by the Representatives of the Olowo of Owo, in support of a proud son of the land, while Surv. Babatunde Fakologbon was also accompanied by some eminent personalities across the nation.
The Academic procession was indeed grandiose as led by the Students’ Affairs Officer, the Deputy Registrar in the academic office with the School Officers of the five existing five schools leading the graduands from their various schools. This was followed by the Students’ Union Executive, Academic Board led by the Director in the Academic Registry, closely followed by the Heads of Departments, Deans of schools, Principal Officers and some visiting Heads.
The next in the procession was the First Alumnus and Sixth Substantive Rector of the Institution, Dr. Dayo Oladebeye who was beautifully dressed in his academic regalia and was immediately followed by the Chairman of the Polytechnic Governing Council, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, and the representative of the Visitor, Minister for Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu and the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje.
It was thrilling to see the ambience and props used in decorating the renovated old pavilion and the two large canopies which were occupied by the graduands of the existing schools in the Polytechnic, some parents, friends and well wishers who graced the occasion.
The highlight of the ceremony was the conferment of the Fellowship Awards of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti on the awardees by the Rector and the Council Chairman to the admiration of everyone who were present at the occasion.
First to be decorated was His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, who was described as a strong, dedicated, dynamic, wise and renowned philanthropist who is committed to humanity and an advocate of youth empowerment.
His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola who sent a representative to the occasion, was described as a leader who has served with no less distinction and dedication, leading the charge for the delivery of President Muhammadu Buhari’s mandate in the area of road transport infrastructure among others, which the Polytechnic had benefitted from.
Yeye Aare Modupe Babalola, another distinguished awardee of the Polytechnic was honoured for her outstanding believe in the philosophy of giving back to humanity and leaving the world a better place than she had met it.
Prince (Dr.) Rotimi Benjamin Ibidapo, OON an Alumnus of the Institution and a renowned business mogul in Oil and Gas Drilling who gained his expertise and wealth of knowledge through various trainings received from across the globe with which he has impacted lives and Institutions through some of his job creation, philanthropic and humanitarian projects. He has meanwhile vowed to help intervene in arresting the infrastructural deficit of his alma mater, The Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti.
Another great Alumnus of the Institution, Surv. Babatunde Adeleke Fakologbon FNIS has over time proven himself as an effective professional, a seasoned entrepreneur. The Managing Director of Nielson Nigeria Limited has contributed in distinctive ways to improving the lots of the less privileged, not to mention the employment of several graduates of Surveying from his Alma Mater and he is poised to do more.
Meritorious Awards and prizes were also presented to some deserving students who had distinguished themselves in their various academic fields by the Visitor and the Rector, Dr. Oladebeye.
The Visitor to the Polytechnic, in his message at the occasion commended the Institution for fulfilling the objectives of technological advancement, stressing that the Federal Government would leave no stone unturned in its quest to making qualitative technical education available to the teeming youths.
Represented, the Honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who spoke through the Director of Technology and Science, at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Grace Jakko, the Visistor urged stakeholders in the education sector to find ways of enhancing their revenue base to compliment Government funding, while calling on other well meaning individuals in the society to assist the Polytechnic in sponsoring projects and programmes that would enhance effective delivery.
Earlier, in his welcome address at the grandeur Convocation, the Chairman of the Eleventh Governing Council, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, stated that the giant achievements of the current administration were manifested in the Institution’s capacity of not only maintaining high academic standard, but in its strive to advance the frontiers of technological knowledge, which would in no distant future transform the Polytechnic to world class standard.
Akogun iyiola Oyedepo, who also stressed that the Federal Government cannot shoulder alone the responsibility of providing all infrastructural facilities for the Polytechnic, appealed for the support of well spirited Nigerians in the provision of facilities and the establishment of endowment for the award of prizes for the benefit of indigent students.
The graduating students, who spoke through one of them, Johnson Adegbola, appreciated the Management, Staff and everyone who had contributed to making them a better version of themselves and for impacting knowledge, which has in turn prepared them for the outside world.
Earlier at a press conference addressed to herald the Convocation on Monday 14th November, 2022, the Rector, Dr. Dayo Oladebeye had disclosed that out of the 13,667 HND and ND graduands form the 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 Academic Sessions, 279 HND and 232 ND respectively made Distinction grades, while 2,079, 2608 and 163 respectfully recorded Upper Credit, Lower Credit and Pass among the HND graduands, just as the remaining ND graduands also have 2,170 Upper Credit, 5,251 Lower Credit and 888 Pass across the three sets.
Dr. Oladebeye while briefing the press in respect of the 18th combined convocation Ceremony of the Polytechnic, being the last and the second ceremony he will be presiding over as the 6th substantive and First Alumnus Rector stressed that the success recorded by his administration would not have been made possible without the help of God.