EDITORIAL- Two Years In Office: FEDPOFFA Rector And The Trend Of Development
History has its pages for those who made change possible and the pages of history are filled with the names of men and women of inestimable values. Either positive or negative, people are busy writing their history. The future will tell if history will be kind to them based on what they have written. The truth remains pellucid, history has its archive.
With legible handwriting, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Offa Kwara State, Engr. Dr. Kadiri Kamoru Oluwatoyin FNSE is writing a beautiful epistle on the pages of history with his innovative ideas and strides of development that have characterized the nooks and crannies of the Polytechnic. The trend of development is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf. Distinctively, the Rector has given birth to a new polytechnic and ushered in the era of methods.
In the words of Malcolm X, education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. Dr. Kadiri came to the position of the Chief Executive of the Federal Polytechnic Offa fully prepared. He has his roadmap and template for his administration, he is desirous of change, and he believes in himself with a mantra, tagged the system must work. In all ramifications, the system is working.
Undoubtedly, the Federal Polytechnic Offa is blessed with a brilliant Rector, the Rector’s brilliance is top-notch in the field of Engineering, he is an astute administrator, but he is not careless to rely on his mental, physical, and administrative abilities, he operates an open door policy with his able lieutenants, staff unions and academic board members. He is not a loner on the path to achieving a better institution and shall never walk alone.
Kofi Annan in his classical quote said education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rests the cornerstone of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development. The system of administration in the Federal Polytechnic Offa under the leadership of Dr. Kadiri Kamoru is that of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development.
Dr. Kadiri led administration has extended the workforce in the Polytechnic with specified responsibilities through unbundling and expansion of units, departments, and directorates for institutional growth, staff efficiency and productivity. In line with the National Board for Technical Education’s guidelines, different schools have been successfully unbundled. He appoints and re-appoints capable personnel to drive the system along his desired dream.
The free flow of any institution depends on a finesse leader who has a clear vision, part of the vision of the Rector is to extend the number of courses in the Polytechnic, today, history is kind to the digital Rector as the Polytechnic passed all the accredited courses successfully.
Harvey S. Firestone in one of his witty words said the growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership. Of course, the pillar of any organization lies in the growth and development of its workforce, for Dr. Kadiri, leadership is his highest calling. As a staunch leader, he prioritises staff welfare, growth, and development by facilitating the sponsorship of more than 500 staff members to different conferences, seminars, and workshops for efficiency and productivity.
In two years, Engr. Dr. Kadiri has raised the bar of infrastructural development in the Federal Polytechnic Offa with newly constructed buildings and renovations of dilapidated structures. His administration has witnessed the construction and furnishing of Laboratory Building for School of Engineering Technology under TETFUND Normal Intervention 2023, 1.2km road construction project under Needs Assessment Intervention for Public Polytechnics. His administration has equally equipped different departments and renovated different structures on both campuses including ICT centre in Mini Campus, Sayomi Library in mini campus, Stella Obasanjo Hall in mini campus, road maintenance and rehabilitation in mini campus, 1000 capacity lecture theatre in Main Campus.
On the 23rd of November 2023, the long overdue FEDPOFFA water was launched for commercialization. Kudos to the one who brought it to reality. At short intervals, Fedpoffa bottled water was launched. It takes a mindset to break the barrier of impossibility. Amazingly, after the water project, FEDPOFFA bread was launched. In two years, the institution has moved from consumption to production of basic commodities to meet the needs of the Polytechnic community and boost the Internally Generated Revenue.
As a thoughtful and resourceful researcher, Dr. Kadiri led the management team to the Raw Material Research and Development Council, National Board for Technical Education, and National Office For Technology Acquisition and Promotion in Abuja in an attempt to revive the research of sweet potatoes into confectioneries which the Polytechnic is known for in the past. This attempt aims to promote the cultivation and utilization of potato varieties to create delectable confectioneries, tapping into its potential as a valuable raw material to contribute to the growth and development of the Nigerian confectionery industry and to seek notable interventions from the agencies for the growth and development of the Polytechnic.
The administration places priority on the polytechnic mandate, that is, research, innovation, skills, and training manpower for national development. Through his innovative template, the institution’s skills development centre where polytechnic products will be commercialized to meet the immediate needs of the community has been activated with the appointment of capable personnel. Similarly, the Polytechnic has commenced Open Distance and Flexible E-learning (ODFel). The Polytechnic has equally signed memorandum of understanding in collaborations with agencies including Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, National Agency for Land Development Authority for the development of the Federal Polytechnic Offa.
Finally, the anticipated Nigeria Polytechnic Games Association (NIPOGA) is currently taking place for the first time in the history of the Federal Polytechnic Offa. What seems impossible has been achieved within 2 years in office. Obviously, we are in the era of methods; not muscles, Dr. Kadiri has written his name on the pages of history where those who made change possible can never be forgotten.
Away and beyond, it is two years of giant strides and development. May the years ahead continue to be fruitful and productive. Happy anniversary to the digital Rector, the system is working.
Esther Folake Oyinloye Mrs.
Head, Public Relations Unit
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