Federal Polytechnic Ayede Graduates 325 Students as FG Expands Technical Education and Skills Development Drive

Federal Polytechnic Ayede has held its maiden convocation ceremony, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s technical and vocational education landscape. The historic event took place at the institution’s permanent campus in Ayede, Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area of Oyo State, with dignitaries, education stakeholders, and community leaders in attendance.

Representing President Bola Tinubu, the Director of Polytechnic Education and Allied Institutions, Dr. Ejeh Usman, commended the government and people of Oyo State, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders for embracing the polytechnic as a shared national asset. He praised the institution’s pioneer leadership for their resilience, strategic direction, and steady growth since its establishment in 2021.

According to the President’s message, Federal Polytechnic Ayede was created to strengthen Nigeria’s technical and vocational education system and to meet the growing demand for skilled manpower, innovation, and enterprise development. Within five years, the institution has recorded measurable progress in academic programme development, accreditation status, and student enrollment growth. The administration reaffirmed its commitment to supporting polytechnics and other enterprise-driven institutions across the country as part of broader education sector reforms.

Addressing the graduating students, the President charged them to uphold integrity, demonstrate professionalism, and position themselves as solution-driven contributors to national development. He also applauded recipients of the institution’s Fellowship Awards for their contributions to public service and national growth, describing their association with the polytechnic as a reflection of its rising academic reputation.

In his address, the pioneer Rector, Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed, emphasized that the polytechnic was founded with a clear mandate to deliver industry-relevant technical education, entrepreneurship training, and practical skills acquisition. He stated that the institution’s model is structured to produce graduates equipped not only for employment but also for enterprise creation and wealth generation.

Through its Centre for Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, the polytechnic ensures that every graduating student earns a National Diploma alongside at least two additional vocational certifications. This multi-layered qualification structure, according to the Rector, positions graduates as job creators capable of contributing to Nigeria’s SME ecosystem, industrial growth, and innovation-driven economy.

Highlighting institutional performance metrics, Abdul-Hameed disclosed that Federal Polytechnic Ayede was ranked seventh among the top 10 institutions nationwide in the October 2025 Institution Ranking Report conducted by Pole Global Marketing for the Federal Ministry of Education. The ranking was based on performance indicators such as enrollment figures, programme delivery efficiency, institutional structure, and digital platform utilization.

The Rector expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa, the Soun of Ogbomoso Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, and other stakeholders for their continued support toward infrastructure and institutional development.

While acknowledging federal interventions, he appealed for sustained investment in critical infrastructure projects, including the completion of access roads linking the campus through Idi-Araba, Oolo, and Odo-Oba. He also called for structured public-private partnerships to facilitate the development of purpose-built hostels, potable water systems, stable electricity supply, healthcare facilities, advanced digital infrastructure, and recreational amenities to enhance student experience and staff welfare.

Chairman of the Governing Council, Hon. Yakubu Dati, urged graduands to serve as ambassadors of integrity, innovation, and service. He commended the Federal Government for establishing the institution and sustaining funding support. He further appreciated the Chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service, Zach Adedeji, for facilitating the construction of the access road to the institution, noting that the project will enhance campus accessibility and stimulate economic activities within the host community.

Earlier, Adedeji delivered the maiden convocation lecture titled “The Role of Technology in Implementing Nigeria’s New Tax Laws: Challenges, Prospects, and Implications for National Development,” where he emphasized digital transformation in tax administration, fiscal transparency, and revenue optimization strategies as drivers of economic stability.

A total of 325 students graduated across the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic sessions. In the 2023/2024 session, 29 students earned Distinction, 49 obtained Upper Credit, 52 secured Lower Credit, and eight graduated with Pass grades. For the 2024/2025 session, 43 students achieved Distinction, 66 earned Upper Credit, 67 obtained Lower Credit, and 11 graduated with Pass grades.

The overall best graduating student for the 2023/2024 session, Miss Taiwo Ibukunoluwa Arinola of Science Laboratory Technology, recorded a CGPA of 3.96. Similarly, Mr. Olapese Quadri Ayofe of Agricultural Technology emerged as the best graduating student for the 2024/2025 session, also with a CGPA of 3.96.

A major highlight of the ceremony was the conferment of the Fellowship of the Polytechnic on distinguished Nigerians, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service, Zach Adedeji, and Chairman/CEO of Spectrum Engineering Limited, Engr. Abubakar Isa, in recognition of their professional excellence and contributions to institutional and national development.

The event attracted top government officials, education administrators, traditional rulers, and representatives of tertiary institutions across Nigeria, reinforcing Federal Polytechnic Ayede’s growing profile as a competitive hub for technical education, entrepreneurship development, and workforce training.

With its emphasis on skills acquisition, innovation, and enterprise-driven education, Federal Polytechnic Ayede continues to position itself as a strategic contributor to Nigeria’s human capital development and long-term economic growth.