256 MAKE DISTINCTION AS YABATECH GRADUATES 7,554 STUDENTS 

A total of 256 Higher National Diploma students made Distinction as Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) graduated 7,554 students. This was as 2,507 had Upper Credit, 3,425 Lower Credit and 779 Pass.

This was made known at the institution’s 34th convocation held on campus in Yaba.

The convocation was for the class of 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 full and part time academic sessions following the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rector of YABATECH, Mr. Obafemi Omokungbe, said the convocation was another achievement of the institution’s mandate as a polytechnic.

He gave the breakdown of the performances of the part time graduating students as HND Part-Time: Distinction 33; Upper-Credit, 551; Lower Credit, 1,20; and Pass 312.

The National Diploma Part-Time: Distinction, 271; Upper Credit, 2,862; Lower Credit, 7295; and Pass, 3,386.

The rector expressed optimism that succeeding administrations would be committed to the objective of the N50 billion endowment fund meant to develop the college.

Omokungbe said despite his achievements, there was room for improvement.

He said the college had a policy to combat sexual harassment.

The policy is to guarantee a violence-free, safe and non-discretionary education and work environment in accordance with international regional and national legal frameworks.

Yaba Tech Consult, the business arm of the college, was restructured and rejuvenated as part effort to increase the revenue base of the college.

Steps have been put in place for the general improvement of students welfare, safety as well as efficiency and productivity of members of staff of the college,” he said.

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, urged the Governing Council and authorities of the institution to expand its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and manage it judiciously.

He said: “One of the challenges being faced is in the area of ensuring that technical level education competes favourably with other means of delivering education as a means of ensuring enhanced development for the country.

It is, therefore, important that you increase your interaction with the industry to achieve more handshake between teaching, learning research on one hand and development on the other.”

Adamu who was represented by Director Special Duties, Ministry of Education, Vivian Wategire, restated his support towards strengthening polytechnics in the country.

Chairman, Governing Council, YABATECH, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), noted that it was time for the Federal Government to fulfill its promises of the conversion of the college to a university.

The management has attended and made the requisite presentation at a public hearing held as part of the law-making process, the bill is at its concluding stage,” he said.

Fagbemi hailed the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its assistance, which he said culminated in the completion of the new School Management and Business Administration Building Phase 1.

The overall Best Graduating Student, Adisa Paul of Civil Engineering Department, got automatic employment with Lotus Bank and cash prize of N500,000.