The Nation Newspaper

Tag: RUGIPO

  • RUGIPO, Owo honour AAUA VC

    RUGIPO, Owo honour AAUA VC

    As Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun settles down to his new role as the Vice Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), he has good wishes from his former school, the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, RUGIPO, where he served as rector, urging him on.

    The polytechnic and the Owo Kingdom gave him a befitting send-off for the role he played in the development of the institution and the town recently.

    The elaborate programme started with the conferment of double chieftaincy titles on him by the Olowo of Owo, Oba David Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III.  The conferment was said to be unprecedented in the history of the ancient Yoruba town.

    The Monarch credited Ajibefun for turning around the fortune and image of the Polytechnic.

    At RUGIPO campus, dignitaries from within and outside Ondo State, including his predecessor at AAUA, Prof. Femi Mimiko, the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Bisi Daramola, graced the occasion.

    Chairman of the occasion, Dr Laoye Adegoke, praised the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, for having the courage to appoint Prof. Ajibefun as Rector five years ago.

    Adegoke, who is the immediate past Chairman of the RUGIPO Governing Council also congratulated the Ajibefun for justifying the confidence reposed in him by turning the polytechnic around.

    Giving an account of Ajibefun’s achievements, the Acting Rector of the institution, Mr I.B. Ologunagba, an engineer, said in a speech, entitled, Celebrating a Man of Courage: “When Prof.  Ajibefun assumed duty as Rector in November 2010, he inherited a polytechnic which had practically been brought to its knees by a protracted crisis… and a polytechnic whose academic image was heavily battered.

    “By the time he was leaving in January 2015, he handed over a polytechnic with an academic image that was already looming larger-than-life; a polytechnic that has been elevated to the position of best state polytechnic in Nigeria.”

    The Acting Rector, who described Ajibefun as a symbol of excellence who radiates integrity, discipline and fair play, promised to improve on his legacy.

    Responding, Ajibefun thanked the polytechnic community for the honour done on him and attributed all the feats recorded under his administration to the grace of God.

    He appreciated the entire Owo Kingdom, particularly the Olowo, for the support he enjoyed as rector.

    Ajibefun noted that the entrenchment of academic ethics and culture in the polytechnic was made possible by the cooperation of all workers, students and the Owo community.

    He charged the workers and students to support the present Management in order to sustain the peace and academic stability in the Institution.

    Ajibefun left with party with gifts from the Council, and various departments and units of the institution.

     

  • Poly honours ex-Rector Ajibefun

    All roads led to the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo (RUGIPO), Ondo State for the send-off of the  former Rector, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun.

    Ajibefun has  been appointed  Vice-Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) to succeed Prof Femi Mimiko.

    The New Millennium auditorium venue of the event was filled with members of the academia, top government officials, traditional rulers and family members of the honoree.

    During his four-year at the polytechnic, the institution was rated the best state polytechnic in Nigeria by a United States-based agency, Transparency International Standards. Also, his tenure witnessed the building of modern facilities.

    The Acting Rector, Mr Boniface Ologunagba, described Ajibefun as an innovative leader, noting that he left enduring legacies in the polytechnic. He said: “Prof Ajibefun is a symbol of excellence whose nature radiates integrity, discipline and fair play.”

    Ologunagba, who was Ajibefun’s deputy, noted that the honoree inherited an administration which had been brought to its kneels by protracted crises, shortage of classrooms and a declining academic culure, noting that the former rector brought the school back from the brink.

    He said: “Prof Ajibefun handed over a polytechnic with a good academic image and modern infrastructure before leaving the office.”

    The immediate past chairman of the polytechnic’s Governing Council, Dr Olaoye Adegoke, described Ajibefun as a “courageous man with a spirit of humility”.

    The VC of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof Adebiyi Daramola, said Ajibefun was an outstanding scholar, who brought dynamism to academic task.

    Congratulating the honoree,  Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Steve Awosika, hailed Ajibefun for his good work,  pledging to support him in his new assignment.

    Responding, Ajibefun thanked  the institution for the honour. He attributed successes recorded by his administration to the robust cooperation from the government, staff and students. He called on staff and students to extend same support to the present management.

    Highpoints of the event were the cultural display by the school troupe and presentation of gifts to the honoree to appreciate his success at the institution.

    Ajibefun was appointed rector of the polytechnic in November 2010. After completing his four-year tenure last November, the government granted him an extension, before he was appointed as VC of AAUA last month.

  • Protest in Ondo Poly over school fees’ hike

    Protest in Ondo Poly over school fees’ hike

    Students of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), Ondo State disrupted academic activities yesterday over hike in their school fees.

    The Rector, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, shut the institution for two weeks as a result of the protest.

    The student went on rampage after the students’ union leadership met on Sunday and resolved to stage a protest over the fees’ increment.

    According to the students, full time students, who are indigenes, are expected to pay over N60, 000. Non-indigenes are to pay over N70, 000. Newly admitted students are expected to pay over N90, 000.

    The irate students blocked the institution’s gate as early as 6.am and prevented lecturers and other members of staff from gaining entrance into the premises.

    The protesting students barricaded the Akure/Benin/ Abuja expressway and stopped vehicular movement for several hours.

    Several properties, including the girls’ hostel building, a new generation bank’s Automated Teller Machine (ATM,) the bank’s signages and some bill boards were damaged.

    The aggrieved students extended their protest to the newly dualised Owo township road where they made fire burn at junctions, including in front of the Olowo of Owo palace, thereby paralysing business activities in the town.

    Eyewitnesses account said one student slumped and several others were injured during the protest.

    Speaking with reporters during the protest, the Vice-chairman of the Joint Campus Committee (JCC) of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) Ondo S,tate chapter, Comrade Olasunkanmi Pelebe said the fees were exorbitant.

    He said the students were paying more than their counterparts in other polytechnics in the Southwest.

    Addressing the protesting students, the Rector of the institution, Prof. Ajibefun appealed to them to maintain peace.

    The rector said the fees would be discussed by the management and the students representatives.

     

  • Court rules on Ondo Poly suit July 3

    The National Industrial Court (NIC), sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, will, on July 3, rule in the case filed by 32 sacked workers of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO), Owo, against the institution’s management.

    Ten lecturers and 22 non-teaching workers, who were sacked last year, are praying the court to reinstate them.

    They said they were laid off for no reason.

    But the management said they were sacked because the institution needed to be re-organised and their services were no longer required.

     

  • Suspected cult members arrested in Ondo poly

    Some students of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo (RUGIPO) in Ondo State suspected to be members of a confraternity group were on Friday arrested by men of the State Anti-Robbery Squad.

    This followed an attack on the institution and its environs by the hoodlums.

    The suspects, who numbered eight, were apprehended at their hide outs following intelligence reports by security operatives.

    Eyewitnesses said the confraternity members, armed with different kinds of sophisticated weapons, attempted to enter the main campus of the polytechnic opposite Ikare-Owo-Akure expressway but were prevented by the institution’s security officials.

    They reportedly took over the express road and started shooting sporadically into the main campus.

    The incident, it was gathered, created panic among students and residents.

    One of the polytechnic students’ leaders, who preferred anonymity, said the cultists invaded the institution in search of one student who belonged to another confraternity.

    He said the bandits had earlier invaded one of the off campus hotels of the polytechnic called “Igbo lodu” where majority of the students are living before moving to institution’s gate.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wole Ogodo, confirmed the arrests, adding that investigations continue.

  • Ex-Ondo Commissioner Akerele dies at 53

    Ex-Ondo Commissioner Akerele dies at 53

    Ondo State residents were shocked yesterday to hear of the sudden death of former Commissioner for Information Ranti Akerele.

    The ace broadcaster and sports analyst died in his sleep. He was 53.

    His remains were deposited at St. Mercy’s Hospital.

    It was learnt that the late Akerele got home around 9pm on Monday after visiting his wife, Lucy, who is hospitalised.

    Sources said he directed his gate man, Mr. Taye Festus, to switch off the generator at midnight and retired into his bedroom.

    Festus told reporters that the late Akerele was hale and hearty before he went to bed.

    He said: “I was expecting Oga to have woken up early but he did not, even after his new driver arrived. We became suspicious around 10am when we did not see him. I went to his window and called him, but he did not respond.

    “I opened the window and saw him lying on the bed. I called him, but he did not answer; so, I raised the alarm and people rushed to our compound. I called a carpenter close to our house and we forced Oga’s bedroom door open. Oga was just lying on his bed.

    “His wife came home with a drip fixed to her hand, but she was taken back to the hospital by sympathisers.

    “Oga’s remains have been deposited at St. Mercy’s Hospital mortuary.

    “I love Oga. I have never been maltreated by him and that is why I remained with him till today because I believed things would change for the better for him.”

    One of the late Akerele’s neighbours, Mrs. Bambo Seibo, said: “I cannot believe Akerele is dead. I saw him yesterday and asked about his wife’s health. I do not believe Akerele could die like that. He was very nice to me. His death is shocking.”

    The late Akerele, who was a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), is survived by his wife and children.

    The deceased, an indigene of Idoani in Ose Local Government Area, was one of Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s close associates.

    He was active in the struggle to retrieve Mimiko’s mandate between April, 2007 and February, 2009.

    The late Akerele handled the Labour Party’s (LP’s) publicity at Mimiko’s Temporary Situation Office at A&T Presidential Hotel in Akure, from where he dished out information across the country daily about his principal, especially through the electronic media.

    As compensation, he was appointed commissioner in 2009.

    The late Akerele and a few other commissioners were relieved of their duties in 2011.

    The late Akerele, who also served at the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC), worked as a media consultant until his death.

    He was the media consultant of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), during its 11th Convocation last December 21.

    Some prominent indigenes have died since last September.

    Former Governor Olusegun Agagu died on September 13. Former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Deji Falae and 14 others died on October 3 in the ill-fated Associated Airline crash while conveying the late Agagu’s remains from Lagos to Akure.

    A former lawmaker representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, Raphael Nomiye, died on November 23.

    The Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, joined his ancestors on December 1.

  • ONDOPOLY to hold convocation after 10 years

    ONDOPOLY to hold convocation after 10 years

    The Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo (RUGIPO), Ondo State, will on Saturday hold its first convocation in 10 years.

    Speaking with reporters on the 11th Convocation, the Rector, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, said the institution could not hold any convocation in 10 years due to students’ unrest and continuous strike by lecturers.

    Saturday’s convocation is for 35,331 students, who graduated between 2001 and 2013.

    Ajifebun said the polytechnic has been enjoying peace since he became the rector three years ago.

    He said: “Now, there is cordial relationship among students, workers and the management. We have a stable academic calendar and there are no more strikes. RUGIPO did not join the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics’ (ASUP’s) strike. We now enjoy peace and we believe this is the ripe period to have the convocation.”

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko will on Saturday inaugurate the institution’s 800-seater Information and Communications Technology (ICT) centre and the Principal Officers’ Lodge.

  • Poly trains artisans

    Poly trains artisans

    The management of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) has floated a workshop to train artisans in a skill acquisition programme to educate them on effectiveness and efficient service delivery. The Rector, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, dropped the hint during the maiden lecture of Sunshine State Youth Movement (SSYM).

    The programme was held last Thursday at Solton International Hotel, Akure. The Rector said the initiative was to provide functional education and make skill acquisition the focus of students.

    Ajibefun said the institution’s focus on the practical programme was to provide skilled manpower in special areas of societal needs. He said the polytechnic was moving towards the provision of skilled students, who would be independent after their graduation.

    The first set of candidates admitted for the programme will commence their training in the first week of March, he stated.

    According to the Rector, the full implementation of the vocational programme would make students of the polytechnic to acquire practical skills in, at least, one area before graduation. He noted the skill acquisition remained solution to youth unemployment ravaging the nation.

    Ajibefun praised the Ondo State government for supporting the programme. He, however, stressed that the success of the programme would depend on availability of electricity.