Finally, Ayede Poly Ogbomoso moving to permanent site, main access road for construction

Finally, Ayede Poly Ogbomoso moving to permanent site, main access road for construction

Yinka ADETUNJI

The long-awaited relocation of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, is set to take place with February 2026 date already given.

This was revealed Tuesday in Ayede, Ogo-Oluwa local government area during an interactive session between the management of the institution and the people of Ayede the host community.

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At the meeting the Rector, Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed, represented by the Deputy Rector (Academic), Dr. Azeez Olasunkanmi Ojo, disclosed with certainty that the maiden convocation ceremony of the institution scheduled to hold February 12 at the permanent site, would kickstart the final relocation.

Rector Federal Polytechnic Ayede Dr Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed

Engr. Abdul-Hameed also informed that a convocation press conference on February 9, would hold at the site.

The news threw the people of Ayede into jubilation expressing readiness to play good host to the institution. Recall the institution founded in 2021 along eight others by (now late) President Muhammadu Buhar,i took off at the site of the National Youth Cente, Iresaapa, Surulere local government. However, the management under Dr Abdul-Hameed immediately commenced construction activities at the permanent site promising to effect quick relocation. Months ago, after the completion of first phase of construction with enough facilities to host the institution, the issue of access road was raised. There are about five access roads to the site – via Ajaawa, through Idi-Araba, through Oolo, via Odo-Oba and then Opete. All are earthen roads, and not motorable, with some even requiring major bridge constructions over rivers/streams. That factor stalled the relocation. Appeals were made to the Oyo state government for intervention since the mentioned access roads are all state/local government roads and each less than 10kms but to no avail.

The Soun of Ogbomosoland His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III meanwhile last year visited both the temporary and permanent sites and promised to make necessary contacts to get the access road (at least one constructed). “It is probably that promised intervention by Oba Ghandi Olaoye that has yielded fruit,” a native of Ayede town, who however preferred anonymity told ogbomosoinsightonline.com. “We understand a prominent indigene of Ogo-Oluwa local government in the government of President Bola Tinubu is the one set to undertake the construction.”

Assuring on the relocation plan, Dr. Ojo, according to a report by Pan Nigeria News, urged members of the host community to prepare adequately and actively participate in the historic event, which he described would be a major milestone in the evolution of the institution.

According to him, the decision to hold the first convocation ceremony at the permanent site was in fulfilment of the promise made by the Rector during a familiarization tour in 2021 that the polytechnic would eventually relocate to Ayede.

“The management has decided to first conduct the maiden convocation here and thereafter commence full relocation to the permanent site this February,” he said, while appealing for “support, particularly in the areas of security and accommodation for staff and students.”

Confirming poor access roads as one of the challenges that had delayed the relocation the Rector expressed optimism that the situation was about to improve, “As a prominent son of the soil had promised to construct the road from Idi-Araba to Ayede before the onset of the rainy season.”

When completed, Ogbomoso to Ayede will be about 15-minute drive.

A member of the Governing Council of the Polytechnic and community representative, Prof. Olajide Ajao, assured the management of peaceful coexistence, declaring, “Ogbomoso people are law-abiding, and we assure the management of one hundred percent cooperation.”

Others who spoke on behalf of Ayede people also expressed joy at the news and promised cordial relationship.

It has been a chequered history for the institution, facilitated by Senator Hamzat Ayoade Adeseun when he was a member of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2011, representing Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa federal constituency. His choice of Ayede as location according to him was to honour one of his former teachers in secondary school – Ogbomoso Grammar School – who later became Alayede of Ayede, (now late) Oba Solademi Adewuyi. After the final approval by President Buhari in 2021, some interests strove rigorously but unsuccessfully to snatch the polytechnic from Ayede town, thank God the choice of Ayede had been published in a newspaper tender as far back as 2011 courtesy the effort of Adeseun who subsequently became a senator. The final push for approval was however a combined effort of other prominent indigenes of Ogbomosoland especially after the late Soun His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr) Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III JP CON CFR saddled a committee of prominent indigenes (which has metamorphosed into Ogbomosoland Consultative Council) with the task.