Daud Olatunji
The Ogun State House of Assembly has urged the state government to prioritize the immediate revival and operational take-off of the State Polytechnic, Ipokia, situated in the Ogun West Senatorial District.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the moribund polytechnic was started by the immediate-past governor of the state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
The abandoned structure was named Moshood Abiola Polytechnic,Ipokia, while the current location for MAPOLY was converted to Moshood Abiola University of Technology, Abeokuta.
The emergence of Dapo Abiodun however killed the idea as his administration abandoned the capital project .
Both Abiodun and Amosun were leaders of the same All Progressives Congress, but, belong to different factions .
The lawmakers made the call for the revival of the abandoned polytechnic through a resolution passed during plenary on Thursday in Abeokuta.
The motion was presented by hon. Bisi Oyedele (APC-Ipokia/Idiroko), who emphasized that resuscitating the polytechnic was a matter of justice, accountability, and responsible governance.
He noted that the institution’s revival would significantly contribute to the educational and economic advancement of the state.
Highlighting the challenges faced by the institution, hon. Oyedele recalled that the Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia, was established through legislation as part of a strategic initiative to advance technical and vocational education in the state.
Despite the construction of substantial infrastructure, the institution has remained non-operational for years.
“This Honourable House will recall that Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia, was established through legislation as part of a strategic educational reform initiative of the Ogun State Government,” Oyedele said.
“Regrettably, despite the passage of time and the construction of significant infrastructure, the polytechnic has yet to commence academic activities.”
He also noted that a committee set up at the beginning of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s first term to review the institution’s establishment had submitted its report, but the findings are yet to be made public, leaving the institution’s fate in uncertainty.
Hon. Oyedele pointed out that Ipokia, a strategic border town, holds significant potential as an international educational hub capable of attracting students from neighboring countries.
He called on the state government to allocate the necessary funds for the rehabilitation and operational take-off of the institution, urging the completion of existing facilities and procurement of academic resources.
“There is a need to preserve the state’s investment by securing the polytechnic’s infrastructure from further decay, theft, or vandalism while awaiting its operational take-off,” he added.
Other lawmakers, including hon. Wahab Haruna (APC-Yewa North II), supported the motion, highlighting the economic benefits the institution would bring to the region.
Hon. Haruna noted that the polytechnic’s commencement would boost economic growth and development in the axis.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon.Oludaisi Elemide (APC-Odeda), stressed the importance of transparency in tracking ongoing projects across the state to ensure accountability and progress.
The Majority Leader, hon. Yusuf Sheriff (APC-Ado Odo Ota), moved the motion to be passed into resolution, which was seconded by hon. Lukman Adeleye (PDP-Odogbolu).
The resolution calls for the immediate accreditation of programmes by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and other regulatory bodies to enable a phased commencement of academic activities.
In his remarks, hon. Oyedele proposed the integration of community stakeholders, including traditional rulers, in the institution’s revival process to ensure local ownership and sustainability.
He also urged the state government to release the committee’s report on the polytechnic’s establishment to the public and expedite actions to bring the institution to life.
The lawmakers collectively called on the state government to act swiftly, noting that the operationalization of the Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia, would serve as a catalyst for educational excellence and economic prosperity in the region.
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