The Kwara State government has named the 2000- capacity Polytechnic Auditorium after the former Governor, the late Admiral Mohammed Lawal.
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Abdul Jimoh Muhammed said that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq directed the institution’s management to name the edifice after Lawal fifteen years after his demise.
Muhammed announced this development at a pre-convocation press conference in Ilorin, the state’s capital.
The Rector added: ” Because of the love this administration has for the Polytechnic, His Excellency came personally to commission the auditorium completed by his administration after been abandoned by previous administrations in the state.
” We proposed to name the auditorium after him (Governor AbdulRazaq), but the selfless leader declined and directed that it should be named after the initiator of the project, Rear Admiral Muhammed Alabi Lawal.”
It would be recalled that Governor AbdulRazaq had in a statement on Saturday declared that the late Lawal “Remains the hero of our people,” adding that the deceased worked for the welfare of the majority.
“On this 15th memorial anniversary for His Excellency, the former Governor Mohammed Alabi Lawal, I join the people of the state to remember a man of honour who died sticking to his patriotic beliefs. He was a valiant leader who touched the lives of the masses in every part of the state within available resources. We are glad to see our people honour him at all times. What the public nostalgia about Omo Laderin means is that he truly stood for what was right against all odds.“ AbdulRazaq said in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye.
While rolling out the achievements of his administration, the rector also announced that the management has obtained Kwara Poly Radio frequency license from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and as well procured necessary equipment for the take-off of the radio station.
Muhammed said the management has paid more than N30m to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for the accreditation of more than 21 programmes run by the institution, thanking the state governor for “The payment of N50 million to start preparation for accreditation, out of the approved N100 million.”
Technological Innovation
Meanwhile, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has urged the Kwara State Polytechnic to be more proactive in deepening a culture of inquiry, technological innovation and enterprise.
He gave the charge on Wednesday at the 27th combined convocation ceremony of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.
Represented by his Deputy, Mr Kayode Alabi, Governor AbdulRazaq said the purpose of technical education for which polytechnics are established would be fully attained through such endeavour.
He added that the institution is one of the few specialised education centres nationwide and has produced several innovative products.
The government, he said, has invested billions of Naira in the tertiary institutions and promised the institution more infrastructure as the state finances improve.
“Recently, we approved N50 million for accreditation of old and new courses at this great citadel of learning. This should have been done many years ago. Ladies and gentlemen, I am also proud to announce to you that Kwara Poly Radio, which our administration started, will go live on December 15, 2021. This will ultimately lead to accreditation for our own Kwara Poly to run Mass Communication as a course at the HND level. This is a dream come true for thousands of our students who had hoped to do their HND Mass Communication after their national diploma.” he said.
PIAK
