It is no more news that a federal polytechnic has been approved for Oyo state sited in Ogbomoso zone specifically at Ayede in Ogo-Oluwa local government area. Moreover, academic activities are expected to commence in October this year while the principal officers have been appointed just as the Governing Council has been constituted for the institution. All is getting set so as to meet the deadline.
Obviously however, the 100 ha permanent site at Ayede cannot be ready by October 2021 and thus some facilities in Ogbomoso zone are being proposed for takeoff including the National Youth Development Centre (NYDC) at Idi-Ayin, Iresaapa in Surulere local government.
The NYDC is a federal government-owned facility expected to provide conducive environment for young people to acquire knowledge, vocational and life skills so as to enhance their competencies and skills towards contributing to national development.
There are 32 NYDCs scattered in the six geopolitical zones of the country. The one in Idi-Ayin was facilitated by Senator Ayoade Adeseun when he was a member of the National Assembly (2003-2015), first as member of the House of Representatives where he represented Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa Federal Constituency and then as member of the Senate where he represented Oyo Central Senatorial District.
But because Adeseun could not return to the Senate in 2015, the project, which stands on a 63 ha parcel of land, was abandoned by the contractor who handled the construction work. Nevertheless, the facility boasts of nine average size buildings, consisting of 13 classrooms and a small administrative block. It is fenced and has a borehole.
Electricity is available and is connected to the national grid. The place is on a major highway (Ogbomoso-Iresaapa-Ikirun/Osogbo road).It also has strong mobile telephone signals.
Meanwhile, the current Minister for Youths and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare, who was recently installed as Agbaakin of Ogbomosoland by Soun, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, JP, CON, CFR, has ensured that contractors return to site to complete the project with the release of N95m. That is expected to be the first phase. Hopefully, more funds will be released for the project. No doubt, the Minister has ingrained his name in the history of the NYDC and that of Federal Polytechnic, Ayede.
The Ogbomoso Stakeholders’ Forum, led by Dr. Saka Balogun and comprised many prominent indigenes of Ogbomoso and which sprang into life in December 2019 to facilitate final approval of the institution for Ayede through its technical committee, headed by Senator Adeseun, had recommended courses such as Science Laboratory Technology, Environmental Sciences/Design Courses i.e. Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, Estate Management etc and Business Studies to commence at this facility.
ogbomosoinsoghtonline.com visited the site earlier this week to monitor progress of construction. Below are picturesque views of the centre that may be the main temporary campus of Federal Polytechnic, Ayede.
