The Chairman, Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Emeratus Professor Godwin Sogolo, has reiterated the commitment of the institution to its mandate of assisting the Federal Government to develop her technical and vocational manpower needs that meet the realities of the 21st century.
Sogolo gave the assurance while delivering his speech during the combined 10th Convocation Ceremony held by the institution at the weekend.
“At this juncture, permit me to reiterate that the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, is poised to fulfil its mandate of assisting the federal government in the development of her technical and vocational manpower needs to meet the current realities of life in the 21st century.
“I can say, with all modesty, that we have, since inception, been training Nigerian youths to acquire requisite skills in line with the objectives for which the Institution was established,” he said.
He urged graduates of the polytechnic to exhibit a high sense of responsibility and be good ambassadors of the institution wherever they go.
Prof. Sogolo thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, who was the biggest guest, represented by the Director, Polytechnic and Allied Institutions, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr A. A. Adewoye
at the event, for finding him worthy of re-appointment, assuring the president, the Visitor as he was addressed, that the confidence reposed in him would not be lost as the current governing council under stewardship is determined to surpass the achievements of all the previous years and take the Polytechnic to new heights in the pursuit of academic excellence in research and teaching, infrastructure and human capital development, with the overall goal of making substantial contribution to Nigeria’s development.
On the graduating students in his speech, the Emeritus Prof. said, “The Visitor, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, today, the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa is graduating a total of 11, 731 students for the award of National Diplomas and 7, 104 for the Higher National Diplomas in various programmes offered by the Polytechnic.
“The graduands have all been found worthy both in character and learning. Permit me, therefore, to congratulate them on their dedication and hard work over the years. I also want to congratulate their parents and guardians as they mark this day in joyful celebration that their various sacrifices, in material and non-material terms, have not been in vain.”
Prof. Sogolo also informed his audience that fellowship of the institution was being conferred on deserving Nigerians in these words: “Today, we are conferring the prestigious Fellowship of this Polytechnic on six eminent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various spheres of human endeavour, and have been adjudged to be deserving of honour by this Institution.
“On behalf of the entire Polytechnic community, permit me also to congratulate our Honorary Fellows on their well-deserved recognition.”
The convocation ceremony had many dignitaries from within and outside the education circle in attendance, notable among whom were: the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr Abdullahi A. Sule; Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu, represented by Mr. Emmanuel Okposin, Assistant Director, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education;
Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed;
Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education, Prof. Idriss M. Bugaje, represented by Engr. Usman Danjuma, the Director of Academic Planning, NBTE; and the Emir of Nasarawa, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibril.