RUGIPO AND THE DREAMS OF ITS FOUNDING FATHER

By Kanu Samuel 

Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo , the oldest institution of Higher learning in Ondo- State is begging for a sustaining aid to enable the institution justify the dreams of its founding father Late ( Chief) Adekunle Ajasin.

It is lamentable that today the aged long institution is administered without recourse to its edict.

It is the only institution that all its management staff are all in acting capacities- The rector has been acting for almost 3 years,no Deputy rector, Registrar in acting capacity, Bursar in acting capacity for almost 5 years while the man co- ordinating the library is also in acting capacity for some years. This trend is dangerous to the growth and development of the lnstitution .

Where is the Governing board that is representing the interest of the visitor? It appears it has gone into extinction. Who gives the Management a direction?The institution needs a help.

Iam happy that the current Commissioner for Education in Ondo- State Prof lgbekele Ajibefun was once a rector in this institution, after his exit, the institution is yet to find its feet.

There is smiling and suffering in the institution: The workforce is suffering due to unpaid backlog of salaries, the Polytechnic is growing without any noticeable development.Its impact is not felt by the host community and neither the State also except by going in cap begging for funding.

As a technical institution, where is the creative innovations to grow the community and the State?

The students do not enjoy any exposure like in the days of Prof Igbekele Ajibefun.

The only pride in the institution is propaganda and display of sentiments to impress the Government that all is well.

All is not well and the VISITOR should not allow deception in any form but exert a political will that will resurrect the fortunes of the oldest institution to justify the vision and mission of the founder father.

In a changing environment policies that will make the institution relevant to the needs of the society should be in place to drive the institution towards making it to occupy spacebenefit of as a Silicon Valley.

Today and in a new year, industrial action by one of the unions is on going due to the insensitivity of Management and Government to the plights of the workers.

The institution has come of age and should not be living in the past glory but rather provide technical assistance in manpower and prowess for the advancement of humanity and the State.

Forr this vision to thrive, the Government, Management, Alumni,unions across levels and distinquished personalities who had passed through this noble institution should come together and make Rugipo an institution of our dream.

It is not too late for restoration and all it requires is a political will that will create a new dawn for the technical advancement of the Polytechnic Community where skill acquisitions are imbibed.Rugipo can be great again and where the workforce and the student body can enjoy a better welfare.

S.O.Ojo(JP)
A public Affairs Analyst.