Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic Seeks Higher Ogun Subvention, Fairer TETFund Access

Rector of Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, Dr Mobolaji Onasanya, has appealed to the Ogun State Government to increase the institution’s monthly subvention.

He also called for equitable access to Tertiary Education Trust Fund interventions to address the institution’s infrastructure deficit.

Onasanya suggested that the state government should consider rotating TETFund support and interventions among its tertiary institutions so that each institution would know the exact year it would benefit from the federal government intervention.

The rector made this call on Monday during a press conference held at the polytechnic premises to herald the combined convocation ceremony and 20th anniversary celebration scheduled for Thursday.

He argued that a situation in which some institutions in the state had not benefited from the federal government intervention in the last 10 to 15 years was impacting negatively on the rapid development of the affected institutions.

According to Onasanya, the polytechnic had not accessed TETFund intervention since 2020, despite its growing need for lecture rooms, laboratories, workshops, staff offices, student hostels and other essential facilities.

He said, “Another important concern is access to Tertiary Education Trust Fund intervention. The polytechnic reports that it has not accessed TETFund intervention since 2020. We respectfully seek consideration of a practicable and equitable rotational arrangement for infrastructure support among state-owned tertiary institutions, so that critical needs can be addressed fairly and sustainably.

“What we are requesting is that TETFund should be on a rotational basis so that we can have a year-by-year timetable showing which institution will access it over the next three years. Then it will go back to another institution and so on, so that it can go round. We feel that some institutions not accessing TETFund for over 10 to 15 years is not good enough.”

He also said the institution’s monthly subvention had remained substantially at its previous level despite rising costs of salaries, utilities, maintenance, equipment and other operational expenses.

He called for an upward review of the institution’s monthly allocation to enable it to meet its financial obligations, sustain essential services and consolidate improvements in teaching, learning and administration.

He added, “We also appeal for a review of the polytechnic’s monthly subvention from the Ogun State Government. The allocation has remained substantially at its earlier level despite increases in the cost of salaries, utilities, maintenance, equipment and other essential operations.

“A review would help the institution manage its obligations, preserve services and sustain improvements in teaching, learning and administration.”

The rector identified the development of the polytechnic’s main campus as another major priority, noting that the use of the Abusi Edumare Campus, which he described as essentially a secondary-school facility, posed logistical and academic coordination challenges.

He said the institution aspired to develop its main campus sufficiently to accommodate all its students in an environment designed for higher technical and vocational education.

Despite the challenges, Onasanya said the polytechnic had recorded progress in infrastructure, academic development, staff welfare, student support and digital services under the present management.

He listed the completed School of Environmental Technology building, Twin Science Laboratory and four-in-one Engineering Laboratories serving Computer Engineering and Electrical/Electronic Engineering among the institution’s major infrastructure achievements.

On academic expansion, Onasanya disclosed that 15 new programmes had received accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education. The rector said the school started in 2006 with 300 students and 10 programmes, but its student population had grown to over 7,000, with more than 30 programmes now being offered

He said the development had broadened opportunities for prospective students and strengthened the institution’s capacity to respond to manpower needs in science, technology, engineering, environmental studies, computing, communication, management and public administration.

The rector also revealed that 11 members of staff had earned doctoral degrees in their respective fields, describing the achievement as a boost to the institution’s academic capacity, research culture and contribution to knowledge.

He said the management would continue to encourage professional development and scholarly advancement, subject to available resources.

Onasanya also said the polytechnic would confer its Fellowship Awards on the wife of the state governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun; Prof Ayo Ogunye, a renowned engineer and former lecturer at the University of Lagos; and Elder Segun Olusanya for their invaluable contributions to national development.

The rector said a total of 9,556 graduates would be presented at the fourth combined convocation of the polytechnic, scheduled for Thursday.

Onasanya said the combined convocation covered five academic sessions, from 2021/2022 to 2025/2026, with 7,419 graduates receiving National Diplomas and 2,137 receiving Higher National Diplomas.

He said, “For our fourth combined convocation, which comprises five sets of graduates from 2021, a total of 7,419 are for National Diplomas, while the Higher National Diploma graduates are 2,137.”