By Opeyemi Olawore
Today, December 20, 2023 marks exactly one year in which the Oyo State Government under the able leadership of the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde appointed new set of Principal Officers for Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.
The four lucky leaders who had lost hope of being appointed, two years after interview woke up to the news that the Governor has graciously approved their appointments as those who would pilot the affairs of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.
Since December 20, 2022, the baton of leadership fell on a new set of Management who had been directing the affairs of the seventeen (17) years old institution. The appointed visionary leaders are Prof. Akinola Kehinde Akinlabi, Rector, Mr. Rasheed Fasaasi Adenrele Adeniji, Registrar, Dr. Olatundun Oluwatoyin Oyewumi, Polytechnic Librarian and Engr. Dauda Adeniran Salaam, the Director of Works and Services.
Other Management team working with them are the Deputy Rector, Dr. Taiwo Adekemi Akinyemi who was appointed for the second term as the deputy rector in January 20, 2023; the acting Bursar, Mr. Modupe Aderemi Ogundapo, Mr. Kolawole Atanda, Director of Audit and Mr. Olajire Gbadamosi, the Secretary to Management.
Special thanks to Prof. Lateef Sanni led Governing Council for his exemplary leadership and commitment towards excellence and advancement of OYSCATECH, Igboora which led to the emergence of the dynamic management team.
Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igboora remains a centre of excellence in agriculture, technology and management which can be likened to a project that must not fail, but continue to flourish in the training of youths, research, community service and capacity building for all categories of persons.
As a polytechnic, the institution was lucky to have been under the tutelage of past notable and visionary leaders, some of which are the pioneer Provost, Prof. Gabriel Olaoye Farinu, immediate past substantive rector, Prof. Jacob Gbemiga Adewale, the acting rector, Mr. Isiaka Adekunle, Mr. Emmanuel Adebayo Taiwo, the pioneer Registrar, Mr. Haadi Asiyanbi, the pioneer Bursar, Dr. S.M. Asiru, the pioneer Librarian, Dr. Olatunji Olaojo, Mr. Niyi Fehintola, Dr. Sarafa Agbogun, Mr. Josiah Ajayi, Mr. Olusegun Olaewe, Dr. Oluwasanjo Ariyo, Mr. Paul Oyediran, Mr. Olajire Gbadamosi, Mr. O. A. Ojetola, Mr. Rasak Oyewo and Engr. Akintunde Akinyemi and a host of others.
These visionary leaders have contributed in no small measure to the development of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.
Until his appointment, one year ago, Prof. Akinola Akinlabi had served in various capacities at the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria, while his training spans within and outside the shores of Nigeria.
According to Warren Bennis, “leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” On assumption of office, the rector, Prof. Akinlabi acknowledged the efforts of the founding fathers of the institution and pledged his commitment to further advance the institution in training, research, community service, Staff and Students’ welfare coupled with the actualisation of the institution’s vision and mission.
In line with Prof. Akinola’s commitment, within his first five months in office, the welding and fabrication unit was resuscitated at the faculty of Engineering and the unit undertook the fabrication and repair of collapsed iron seats stands at 800 Seat Hall.
Similarly, the Wheel Balancing and Alignment unit was set-up at the faculty of Engineering, while plans are underway to also set-up vulcanizing unit at the faculty.
In furtherance to the reactivation of the Welding and Fabrication unit at the faculty of Engineering, the Vocational Skill and Entrepreneurship Study Centre (VSESC) handled the upholstery work of the 600 damaged or missing seats and back rests at the 800 Seater Lecture Hall.
Within the first month in office, the new Management procured and installed the stolen transformer materials (feeder pillar and amour cable) and re-installation of electrical poles, tracing and resultant supply of electricity to the institution after a very long time of lack of electricity supply. In addition, the repair of leaking roofs at Home and Rural Economics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology laboratories and Administrative buildings were undertaken.
For sustainable agricultural production in crop and livestock production, the Rector on assumption of office met with all the traditional rulers in Ibarapa Central Local Government and other stakeholders in order to resolve land matters which had prevented the institution from embarking on large scale commercial farming and these matters have been resolved except in the area of compensation to land owners which requires the efforts of the State in bringing the issue to a logical conclusion.
The traditional rulers who spoke through the Olu of Igboora, HRM Jimoh Titiloye commended the Oyo State Government over the appointment Prof. Akinlabi and other management team as they promised to support the institution like in the past years.
John Maxwell in his submission on leadership describes a leader as “one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.” In order to fulfil his dream for round the season production of broilers and egg; between January and March, 2023, chicks were bought, reared and sold, while other sets of broilers were equally reared and sold for the 2023 Christmas and New Year celebration.
The efforts of OYSCATECH Venture, farm manager and other stakeholders are highly commendable for working the talk. As at January, 2022, the total capacity of pigs stood at 71 for all categories, but as at March, 2023, six more pigs have been purchased for farrowing. Presently, the college has 152 flock for all categories aside those that were slaughtered and sold for protein supply for college community. At the cattle section, the total flock stands at 32, while the flock at the sheep and goats pen which were 19 has increased to 35.
Towards increasing the production capacity of arable crops, 38 acres of land have been cultivated for cassava production, besides the loss earlier recorded during the first cultivation due to straying animals that vandalised the cassava farm.
The cassava cultivation were restricted to the accessible land. These show that the new management is committed to increasing the production capacity of both livestock and plantation farming system in the college.
Between 22nd and 26th May, 2023, the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology played host to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for the accredited of the following courses; resource accreditation of National Diploma in Civil Engineering, Electrical Electronics Engineering and Food Technology. Others are Higher National Diploma in Accountancy, Public Administration and Business Administration coupled with the full accreditation of National Diploma in Office Technology and Management and Library and Information Studies.
The accreditation became necessary following the status of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora as a full-fledged polytechnic.
The accreditation exercise was successful as all the programmes presented for accreditation were granted approval by the NBTE.
The new administration embarked on the beautification of the institution through painting of the gate house which has given the institution a new look.
According to Prof. Akinlabi, the management will not relent in ensuring regular accreditation of existing programmes while new programmes such as mass communication, purchasing and supply, Banking and Finance, Industrial and Labour relations and Marketing will be introduced.
The Rector who lauded the Oyo State Government under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde for prompt payment of salaries and for capturing the shortfall in salary payment pledged his unresolved commitment to the welfare of Staff and Students in the area of training and retraining and provision of favourable working environment.
As part of his plans for intensive practical and qualitative training for students, the rector re-introduced farm practice for all categories of students in addition to the mandatory entrepreneurship training programme.
In other to join the advocacy by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on war against drug abuse, the Akinlabi led management in conjunction with NDLEA inaugurated Campus based drug free club (WADA).
The Rector in his roadmap documentation plan promised to ensure improvement of research laboratories through functional equipment, furnishing of classrooms with projectors and staff offices with relevant office equipment.
The promise no doubt has experienced a boost through the 2021 TETfund Intervention of Four Hundred and Ninety Eight Million, Four Hundred and Thirty Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and One Naira (#498,439,401) for the following interventions; Physical Infrastructure for the construction of a building housing three (3) classrooms and 10 offices which costs Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (#250,000,000). For Library Development, the sum of Twenty Five Million Naira (#25,000,000) was awarded by TETfund for books, Furniture and Digitization, while the sum of One Hundred and Twenty Five Million Naira (#125,000,000) was released for Academic Staff Training and Development. Through the Academic Staff Training and Development, thirty (30) Staff members have benefitted from the TETfund Scholarship for Doctorate Degrees, Post Doctorate Degrees and Master Degree programmes. In addition.
The TETfund intervention assisted the institution for conference attendance, ICT Support, Institution Based Research (IBR), Fabrication of Equipment, Publication of Journals and Manuscript Development.
By and large, the institution can now boast of three additional Journals apart from Journal of Agriculture, Management and Technology (JAMTECH) which had been in existence before the new ones.
The three new journals are OYSCATECH Journal of Science and Agricultural Technology (OYSCATECH-JSAT), OYSCATECH Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences (OYSCATECH-JEES), OYSCATECH Journal of Management, Economics and Communication Studies (OYSCATECH—JMES).
The Journals published with the sum of Five Million, Six Hundred and Thirty Four Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (#5,634,500) have been delivered to the institution.
The rector, Prof. Akinola Akinlabi who could not hide his joy during the official presentation of the journals by the contractor posited that more developmental projects will be experienced by the institution in the coming years.
Four books which were converted from manuscripts to books were also handed over to the Rector. The books are A Guide to Basic Animal Nutrition for Polytechnics and Colleges by Dr. Mosobalaje, M. A., Basic Principles of Microbial Biochemistry for Colleges and Polytechnics by Oyekunle, L. O., Basic Principles of Soil Science by Dr. Bello, W. B. and Probability Theory made Easy by Olakunle Kayode.
The Prof. Akinlabi led administration within one year is grateful to God for the unprecedented development that has brought advancement to the institution, departments and staff members.
As part of the development, the Faculty of Engineering of the institution successfully handled the fabrication of the following sets of equipment; Two (2) Industrial oven for fish and other agricultural products, One (1) 1000kg capacity cassava grating machine, One (1) Centrifugal blower for furnace and Two (2) Tromell sand sieving machine.
Prof. Akinlabi also pledged to sustain the cordial relationship with the host community, in addition to the provision of agricultural products for the use of the community. The rector revealed that the polytechnic will hence forth relate research outcomes to the community through the agricultural extension department.
The Management of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora will remain indebted, if it failed to acknowledge the good policy directions, counselling and the support constantly received from Prof. Lateef Sanni led Governing Council. Without the support of the Governing Council all the aforementioned feat would not have been achieved.
The Governing Council in the year under review graciously approved the 2023 Promotion Exercise for Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff. The Thirty-Two (32) Teaching Staff for promotions spread across various Faculties and Cadres.
Out of the Thirty-Two, the Appointment and Promotions Committee (A&PC) recommended the Prima Facie Qualification (PFQ) of Six (6) for the position of Chief Lecturers and Three (3) for the position of Principal Lecturers, Thirty-Four (34) Senior Non-Teaching Staff presented for promotion were equally approved while the junior members of staff also enjoyed their promotion.
Both Governing Council and Management have continued to prioritize the welfare of Staff and Students of the institution.
The institution has also received Hilux vehicle purchased by TETfund and it is been utilized, while work has commenced on One Billion Naira TETfund Intervention for the construction of Academic Building. Upon completion, the academic building will reduce the accommodation challenge for teaching and research.
The 30 Seater Coaster Bus which had been in the state of disrepair has been repaired and it is been utilized by staff and students for excursion and events. Three tractors were also repaired and are being judiciously utilized for farm use, training and commercial purposes.
As part of the development brought to bear in the last one year, the OYSCATECH Venture has floated block making industry and has been supplyiqng blocks to the host community and on-going construction of work in the college.
Besides, the channelization of drainage around the administrative building was carried out in order to prevent perennial flooding affecting the institution.
Repair work were also undertaken by the Works and Services Department for the re – fixing of the damaged net through the purchase and installation of the new ones at the poultry unit of the farm. The repair was extended to the damaged mechanical pipes of the Battery cage system at the poultry.
These among others were some of the laudable projects undertaken by the present leadership of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.
Another achievement that gladdens the heart of the present leadership of the institution is the outstanding progress being recorded by the staff of the institution, as not less than seven (7) members of Staff bagged Doctorate Degrees in Clothing, Computer Science, Agricultural Extension and others.
Staff development is graciously enhanced as the staff are encouraged to pursue further studies. More Staff were also conferred with Masters Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, National Diploma and Higher National Diploma.
It is therefore crystal clear that, “leadership is about taking responsibilities and not making excuses,” in the words of Mitt Romney. Prof. Akinlabi revealed that efforts are being intensified for the institution to have an adopted village for the demonstration of her findings and in reaching out to communities.
The new management are equally intensifying efforts at improving the internally generated revenue of the institution.
By and large, the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora under the new dispensation plans to put the following in place; independent solar power source that will aid uninterrupted teaching, research and practical activities, provision of digital meteorological station to enhance weather data collection and weather forecast for teaching, research and development of master plan for farm and infrastructure allocations.
Others are regular maintenance and repairs of infrastructures, establishment of greenhouse for the polytechnic for teaching, research and as source of internally generated revenue (IGR).
The Management intends to develop a demonstration farm with irrigation system to boost agricultural training and collaboration with relevant agencies for further beautification of the environment and regular sanitation of the polytechnic surroundings through planting of trees which will also serve as wind breaker to the buildings, in addition to the provision of waste bin with sustainable waste disposal method, modification of curricula to accommodate more practical and entrepreneurship courses, engaging students’ counsellors and staff advisers on students’ attitudinal change, ensuring students’ industrial training and field trips towards relevant areas of study and creation of gift shop and show room to showcase and sell the institution products.
Without mincing words, Prof. Akinola Akinlabi led new management, remains committed to the advancement of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora and to sustain the labour of the past heroes through the various developmental plan. One can only pray the good plans come to fruition.
To cap it all for the year, OYSCATECH has been considered among the six Agricultural institutions in Nigeria to participate in the “WATEA’ (Women in Agricultural Technical Education and Apprenticeship in Nigeria) project been sponsored by French Government and IITA.
As the Akinlabi led Management marks one year in office, Staff, Students, Host Communities and Stakeholders within and without can only join hands with the visionary leadership of Prof. Akinola Kehinde Akinlabi towards moving OYSCATECH to enviable heights.
Opeyemi Olawore
Public Relations Officer
Writes from Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora
