The International Vocational, Technical and Entrepreneurship Centre (IVTEC), Ajase-Ipo in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State has called for the upgrade of the centre to a polytechnic to enhance students’ enrolment.
The Rector of the institution, Dr Yaru Salihu, stated this in Ajase-Ipo at the weekend during the third graduation ceremony of 400 trainees of the college.
Salihu sought an amendment to the law that established the institution to quicken the process that would lead to the upgrade.
He added that the elevation of the status of the centre would also enable it to attract educational grants from TETFUND and similar outfits for infrastructural development in the institution.
“Since the approval IVTEC obtained in 2019 to award the National Innovation Diploma (NID) Certificate, the college has not been able to attract students into its NID programmes. This is largely due to the orientation of the populace about NID being a lesser certificate to National Diploma (ND).
“In view of this, the college is passionately seeking for an upgrade to the status of a Polytechnic to boost students enrolment and also to position the college for educational grants from bodies such as TETFUND.
“There is a need to revise the law of establishment of the college to facilitate the process of the upgrade,” Salihu said.
At the ceremony, the state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, identified self-employment, entrepreneurship, farming and innovation as the key to sustainable development and growth.
AbdulRazaq said that as a responsible government, his administration would sustain investment in programmes and projects that would propel sustainable development and make the youths self reliant and prosperous.
The Governor, represented by the state Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr Afees Alabi, said the institution was conceived to provide market-driven skilled manpower needed at all levels.
He said this would propel the nation’s economy and promote social and economic wellbeing of the deprived and less privileged individuals with a robust global competitiveness.
“I appeal to sons and daughters of this state to continue to support our administration in the overall interest of our state and country.
“I believe strongly that self-employment, entrepreneurship, farming and innovation are the key to sustainable development and growth,” AbdulRazaq said.
The Governor, who recalled that the centre was established without students upon his assumption of office, said efforts are being made to consolidate on the gains recorded with its operation.
“The establishment of this institution is meant to give marketable skills to young people and make them self reliant/entrepreneur rather than job seekers.
“This empowers young people and reduces the possibility of them becoming idle hands in the devil’s workshop.
“On our inauguration in 2019, the college existed in name and facilities with no students. This is of concern to us and we are thinking outside of the box already,” AbdulRazaq said.
He said consultations were ongoing among various stakeholders on how to consolidate on the gains of this institution.
“As part of our initiatives to empower young people, we have consistently been sponsoring students to learn skills after which we empower them.
“What we are seeing here is the third of such intervention. The difference is that this is the highest number of students to be so trained in different skills in this institution.
“Nonetheless, what we are witnessing today is going to be a tip of the iceberg compared to what is yet to be unveiled in terms of such intervention,” AbdulRazaq said.
He said as a responsive government, his administration would continue to invest in programmes and projects that would propel sustainable development and make the youths more self reliant and prosperous.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Governing Council of the college, Alhaji Yekini Bukoye, said that the institution was synergizing with corporate bodies to expand the frontier of funding for the college, to complement the efforts of the state government.
Bukoye tasked the graduands to shun fraudulent acts and other misdemeanors that could subject the institution to ridicule.
The IVTEC graduands included first and second batches of Kwara State Youth Employment and Empowerment Generation Scheme, members of the Artisan Congress and self-sponsored trainees.
While the trainees were awarded technical and entrepreneurship certificates, they also went home with the state government sponsored-start-up packages to enable them put to use the acquired skills.
