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Tag: Abiodun Falodun

  • Edo Poly eyes grant for Prof. Choudhary’s Institute of Natural Product Research

    Barely two months after management of the Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, unveiled the Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary Centre for Natural Product Research (ICCNPR), the center is putting finishing touches on its plan to kick-start operations with a grant to advance natural product research in Nigeria.

    Rector, Edo State Polytechnic, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, disclosed this in a chat with journalists, noting that once the center wins the grant, the center will be open for multi-disciplinary and in-depth research in natural products to provide solutions to peculiar problems facing the country.

    According to him, “The Edo State Polytechnic has proven to be a leading light in higher education in the state in just a matter of months. We have inaugurated two centers that will lead advanced research in areas that are not just germane for development, but that will groom capable hands in conducting advanced, applied research.

    “We have also secured very crucial partnership with local and international collaborators to drive the mandate of making this school into a world-class institution.

    “The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), for instance, is a strong partner for the Center for Geospatial Information Science (CGIS) and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary is working with us on Natural Product research.”

    “So, what we have done for the ICCNPR is to basically apply for grants to ensure that there is a sustainable source of funding for the research we will do at the Center.

    “This will ensure that this research does not suffer hiccup and also set clear research objectives and timelines. We already have the laboratory with which to work,” he added.

    The ICCNPR was launched in December 2018, as a pioneer center for Natural Product Research and serves to groom a new crop of practical-oriented scientists and technologists to develop new drugs and other solutions for the benefit of society.

     

     

  • Edo Poly partners NASRDA on geospatial information research

    The Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, has struck a partnership with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), for the optimal operation of the institution’s Center for Geospatial Information Science, paving the way for professional training and research in geospatial studies.

    Rector of Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, in a chat with journalists, disclosed that the institution is going to make the best use of the state-of-the-art facilities at the center for the advancement of society.

    Noting that he has already given the charge for accurate mapping of the institution’s host community, Usen, in Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State, Prof. Falodun said, “We want to ensure that the centre meets the needs of the immediate community and its offerings relevant to the people. This is why we are going to properly map the host community.”

    He said the school has already reached agreements with NASRDA for partnership to exploit the agency’s expertise in contributing to development in the state and country at large.

    According to him, “I am very pleased to announce that we now have a robust partnership with NASRDA on the operations at the CGIS. As a centre that will engage in a lot of drone operations, we are very confident that this operation will pave the way for a lot of the work we do here.”

    He hinted that the centre is in advanced stage of mounting professional training programmes in geospatial information science, and explained that training will be conducted for people who already deploy Geographic Information Systems in their work and others who aim to kick start a career in geospatial science.

  • Edo Poly holds maiden convocation, as 403 bag distinction

    …Ohonbamu advocates credible leadership at Founders’ Day Lecture

     

    The Edo State Polytechnic Usen, is set to hold its convocation ceremony on Saturday, December 1, with not less than 6,563 students graduating from the institution, after 16 years of its existence.

    Speaking at the Founder’s Day Lecture, which is part of activities to mark the first convocation ceremony of the institution, in Usen, Edo State, the Rector, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, said the event was a major milestone in the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration.

    Prof. Falodun said the 6,563 graduating students were from 2004/2005 to 2016/2017 academic sessions. A breakdown of the graduands showed that 403 graduates bagged Distinction; 2,298, Upper credit; 3,156, Lower Credit and 706 with Pass, spread across National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels.

    He said the institution runs 21 academic programmes with the objective to produce highly skilled personnel to drive industrialization, adding that in the last six months the school has deepened its internationalization drive.

    According to him, “Aside from the fact that we are improving infrastructure, we are also committed to ensuring that our students get world-class education. We have secured a partnership with a number of Nigerian scholars in the diaspora who are now visiting lecturers in Edo State Polytechnic. They include Dr. Marvin Amas-Amadasun, a software Engineer in Switzerland; Dr. Agwi Peter Odion, an Urban and Regional Planning expert in Germany; Prof Anthony Okoh in the field of renewable energy, from University of Fort Hare, South Africa and Professor Uchechukwu Nwodo in the field of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in University of Fort Hare, South Africa.”

    Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, who delivered the Founder’s Day Lecture entitled ‘Leadership, Development and the Vagaries of Power; Nigeria in Perspective,’ said it is only good leadership that can bring about all-round development.

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    He said during the military era in Nigeria, leadership was synonymous with domination, repression and marginalization, while Nigerians have fared better with the democratic system of governance.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari had made conscious efforts to put Nigeria on the path of progress, noting that the fight against corruption has recorded considerable results.

    He added, “There has been considerable improvement in our democratic institutions which has increased the confidence in our electoral process. It should be noted that President Buhari alone cannot fight corruption unless he is supported by all, including the legislature and the judiciary.”

    Ohonbamu commended the Rector of the institution for resetting the polytechnic on the path progress, in line with Governor Godwin Obaseki’s vision for the overall development of the state.

    He stressed that Governor Obaseki has brought hygiene into Edo State politics with sound socio-economic policies.

  • Obaseki leads EXCO to Edo State Poly’s maiden convocation

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, will on Saturday, December 1, 2018 lead the state government’s delegation to the maiden convocation ceremony of Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, the first since inception.

    Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, in a chat with journalists, said that a number of activities have been lined up for the ceremony, which will hold from November 27, 2018 to December 2, 2018 at the main campus of the polytechnic.

    The Founder’s Day Lecture, one of the events lined up for the convocation ceremony, will be delivered by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, on Thursday, November 29, 2018, entitled, “Leadership Development and Vagaries of Power: Nigeria in Perspective.”

    He said, the lecture by Hon. Ohonbamu, will set the tone for the series of activities set to hold in Usen, Ovia South West Local Government Area, Edo State.

    The convocation lecture will be delivered by Space Physicist, Prof. Babatunde Rabiu of the Center for Atmospheric Research, on Friday, November 30, 2018, entitled: “Repositioning Higher Education Towards Effective Patronage of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development.”

    “We are extremely proud that Governor Obaseki will be at the occasion as visitor to the institution. This is a landmark event. We are proud of the reforms the governor has brought to the state and this institution in particular. So we are prepared for the auspicious occasion and thrilled that the institution is now meeting the objectives set for it by its founding fathers,” Prof. Falodun said.

    The convocation, according to Prof. Falodun, is a major milestone and reflects the far-reaching reforms by the Governor Obaseki-led administration in the institution. He noted that the convocation ceremony will hold at the school in Usen.

    He urged graduates of the institution to avail themselves of the opportunity to get their certificates and assured that all necessary arrangements have been made for a seamless and successful event.”

    The Rector explained that the institution will issue the first set of certificates bearing its name after over 16 years of its establishment, noting, the certificates will be produced in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “We are urging graduates of the institution to visit our website for details of how to obtain their certificates. The convocation will be an opportunity for them to collect theirs. We are as excited as they are, that we have made it possible for them to receive their certificates,” he said.

    He added that a number of reforms are ongoing at the polytechnic to re-position it for global reckon, noting that new programmes in the Higher National Diploma level have been introduced even as partnerships have been sealed for international visiting lecturers from Switzerland, Germany and South Africa.

  • Education Reform: Edo State Poly holds first convocation

    In what is best described as a watershed moment in its over 16 years of existence, the Edo State Polytechnic, formally known as Edo State Institute of Technology and Management (ESITM), Usen, will from November 28 to December 3, hold its maiden convocation ceremony.

    Rector of the institution, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, who disclosed this in a chat with journalists, said that the development is not only a major milestone but also another expression of the far-reaching reforms by the Governor Obaseki-led administration in the state.

    Noting that the convocation ceremony will hold at the institution’s complex, he said that the school will also issue the first set of certificates bearing its name since its inception, noting the certificates will be produced in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

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    According to him, “I am pleased to announce that Edo State Polytechnic will host its maiden convocation ceremony this year. The ceremony will hold from November 28 to December 3. It will be the first-ever convocation at the institution.”

    He urged graduates from the institution to avail themselves of the occasion to get their certificates, noting that all necessary arrangements have been made for a seamless process.

    “We are urging graduates from the institution to visit our website for details on how to access their certificates. The convocation will be an opportunity for them to secure theirs. We are as excited as they are, that we have made it possible for them to access their certificates,” he said.

    Falodun explained that a number of reforms are ongoing at the polytechnic to reposition it for global reckon, adding that new Higher National Diploma programmes  have been introduced even as partnerships have been sealed for international visiting lecturers from Switzerland and Germany.

  • Edo Poly Usen unveils internationalisation roadmap

    …attracts Diaspora lecturers


    The commitment of the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to deliver quality education at the tertiary education level has received a boost at the state-run Edo Polytechnic, Usen, as the school has unveiled an internationalisation programme with which it intends to attract Edo scholars in the Diaspora for visiting lectureship positions at the institution.

    Governor Obaseki commenced the revamp of the Polytechnic earlier this year when he appointed Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Prof. Abiodun Falodun as the school’s rector.

    Prof. Falodun, in a chat with journalists, said that he intends to consolidate on Governor Obaseki’s revamp effort by repositioning the Polytechnic as a global institution, which will offer top-grade tuition to students that balances local expertise with international exposure.

    He said the school has just opened an International Office for interface with Edos in the diaspora, and has secured agreement with two scholars from Switzerland and Germany, who will strengthen the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and programmes in the School of Environmental Studies at the institution.

    According to him, “We are causing a change at the Polytechnic because we believe we have what it takes to offer quality education if we harness our potentials. We have developed a roadmap to achieve this. It includes interfacing with a vast Diaspora community, especially those in specialized disciplines to come back here and teach the students what obtains not just in the contemporary world, but the opportunities in the future. So, our internationalisation programme is targeted at building local capacity with international exposure, such that students and lecturers can benefit from the visiting lecturers.”

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    He said two of the lectures are Engr. Marvin Ama-Amadasun Ph.D, a software engineer based in Switzerland and Dr. Peter Odion Agwi, an expert in Urban and Regional Planning from Germany, who will be anchoring classes at the School of Environmental Studies as well as the Information Systems-focused departments.

    “We have more openings for others in the diaspora who would want to contribute to the state and the institution. This will not only go a long way to reduce gaps between the town and the gown, but also engender strong collaboration between the institution and foreign partners,” Prof. Falodun added.