Alumni hail Makinde over retention of LAUTECH acronym, confer award on him, 7 others
Yinka ADETUNJI
President of the alumni association of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Mr. Solomon Onilede, has applauded the Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde over his assurance on retention of LAUTECH acronym for the institution.
Onilede, who is global president of the association, said this, Thursday during the association’s 16th annual lecture held at LAUTECH Alumni Civic Centre.
Welcoming guests, Onilede described the governor as a great lover of the institution, and noted, “He has demonstrated this over and over and recently again he did that by assuring LAUTECH Global Alumni Association on the retention of the name LAUTECH.”
Justifying the desire to have that acronym retained he asserted that the name “has become a branded one for excellence, integrity and service for our great institution.”
He added, “Even as the university is turning to a multi-campus one, the governor has magnanimously agreed to maintain the popular name LAUTECH, through which the institution has risen to become best state university in Nigeria, and in the 10th position among all the universities in Nigeria (federal, state and private), and is still maintaining these till date.
“To this and many more we say we are grateful sir.”
ogbomosoinsightonline.com recalls that recently the Oyo state government announced its plan to turn the university into a conventional cum multi-campus institution that would inevitably make it move away from being solely a technological-based school and consequently unveiled L.A.U. as new acronym, however the planned adoption of LAU as acronym elicited great protests from the alumni and other stakeholders, provoking the old students association to parley with the governor during which an assurance to retain the popular acronym was said to have been extracted.
In his lecture, titled, “Curbing insecurity in Nigeria through youths empowerment and skills acquisition,” the Director-General of Oyo State Joint Security Task Force (Operation Burst), Col. James Oladipo (rtd.), identified unemployment as one of the factors leading to the spike in rate of insecurity in the country.
Proferring solution to the menace, Col. Oladipo canvassed technical, vocational education and training (TVET) as a veritable measure.
“The only tool that can be used in addressing security challenge in Nigeria is TVET, as the greatness of any nation is in the quality of its people, the worth of its governance and empowerments of its youth. The future of our country and its development depends on how we develop, empower and inspire our youths.
“It is believed that TVET will ensure peaceful coexistence among people living in society and equip youths with adequate and up-to-date skills in their chosen vocations.”
He stressed the need to strengthen collaborations among industries, vocational institutions and TVET providers noting this would ensure relevant contents to meet labour requirements are inculcated into youths.
In addition, Oladipo advocated empowerment of youths through soft loans to start businesses, charging government to create enabling socio-economic and political environment, as well as infrastructure to make the environment adequately investment friendly.
Prof Samson Ojoawo, chairman, planning committee, who is a also a don at the Department of Civil Engineering of the institution, also submitted that “when our youths are gainfully employed and productively engaged through acquisition of relevant skills they shall be adequately empowered and be less involved in negative acts.”
Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Mojeed Liasu, lauded the association for its contributions to societal development, describing the association as a trail blazer.
Prof Liasu further stated, “The feedbacks about LAUTECH alumni association, both at home and in the Diaspora, and from the society are highly encouraging and we are happy that you are all projecting the good image to the university in the outside world.
“The many feats by the university and alumni, as best described, are commendable. The central aim of LAUTECH alumni annual lecture is to enlighten the general public as well as the university community on the challenges bedeviling the country, especially as relating to university education with a view to proffering solutions for having a better society.”
The alumni, a day earlier, visited the Kersey Children’s Home (an orphanage), Oke Baby, Ogbomoso, to put smiles on the faces of the children there through donation of various needed items.
