Tag: Yabatech

Chief Lecturer in the Department of Computer Technology, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr Ajibike Olubunmi Itegboje, has urged the management to consolidate on the gains it made leading the internet revolution in Nigeria.

Delivering the 11th Inaugural Lecture of the college penultimate week, Dr Itegboje said YABATECH and the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife played key roles in breaking the country into the committee of internet nations in 1993 through research activities, training and establishment of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG).

She said from the little beginning of 0.1 per cent penetration in 2000 Nigeria’s use of the internet grew to 46.1 per cent in 2016 – with YABATECH also expanding access from 1Mbps (megabytes per second) in 1997 to the current provision of 155 Mps fixed internet bandwidth.

To consolidate on these, Dr Itegboje advised the college management, led by the Rector, Obafemi Omokungbe, an engineer, to collaborate with institutions that can make wireless internet connection a reality in the college.

“Management is advised to look critically into forging more collaborations either with individuals or corporate bodies for the fast development of the college.  On this note, the Google one billion connect project should be vigorously pursued.  It will provide the benefit of free WIFI in densely populated areas of the college such as the student hostels,” she said.

Dr Itegboje also spoke of using the internet to provide online education for many qualified candidates denied admission into the college due to space constraint.   She said the institution should seek ways to use its ICT infrastructure and internet connection for teaching and learning and devise ways of rewarding lecturers that integrate ICT into the learning process.

“There is therefore a need to maximise the expenditure on the ICT infrastructure in the college by using it for teaching engagements in the Yaba and Epe campuses as well as floating online diploma and certificate courses. This will drastically improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) while positioning the college as an institution, performing a social responsibility of educating more people,” she said.

In his remarks after the lecture, the Rector praised Itegboje for the lecture, which he described as wonderful and thought-provoking. He promised to study her recommendations, some of which he said were already in the college’s master plan.

He promised to sustain the inaugural lecture series which he resuscitated when he assumed duty as rector last year.

Highlight of the lecture was the presentation of a plaque to the lecturer by the Rector as well as a life-size stature by her former students.

Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has inaugurated a water factory to boost its internally generated revenue (IGR) and provide potable water for its community.

Its Governing Council Chairman Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who spoke at the event, said it was one of his happiest moments.

He praised the Rector, Obafemi Omokungbe, for his resilience and ability to undertake thought provoking projects, describing him as a silent achiever.

“I am happy that the dream of establishing this water factory has come to pass. Therefore, I want to congratulate everybody that contributed to the project. I want to recommend this water for everybody, and encourage us to advertise this water, because no matter how good your product is if you don’t advertise it nobody will do it for you. I want to advise that all the materials that will be needed for the production of the water should be sourced from within, including the labeling, so that the money is retained here, nothing should go outside,” he said.

Omokungbe remarked that he was happy because YABATECH water was another landmark achievement, adding that it was one of the uncompleted projects he inherited when he assumed office in March 2018.

“The project particularly caught my attention; the reason being that water is a fundamental human need. Clean and safe water is required for healthy living and as a responsible institution; we are concerned with the wellbeing of our staff and students.

“The college revenue is very poor, and it has become quite challenging to meet up with the maintenance of the existing facilities and provision of infrastructure. It, therefore, became necessary for the college to urgently improve its internally generated revenue to be able to meet its obligations, since the fund from government has become inadequate. It was on this basis that the YABATECH Consult was mandated to ensure the completion of this project within the shortest possible time,” he said.

Omokungbe, an engineer, said YABATECH water had the nod of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administrative Control (NAFDAC) and would soon be the only packaged water sold on Campus.

Yabatech Consult Director, Iyang Udoh, while welcoming guests, said the YABATECH premium table water and sachet water would be produced with state-of-the-art equipment, including reverse osmosis, ozonator and superior micron filters. When fully operational he said the factory would produce about 31,000 sachets of water (50cl) and 10,000 bottled water (75cl and, or 50cl) per day.

According to Udoh, the factory has equipment to produce 66 big ice blocks per day with a cold room for storage.

He thanked all members of the college instrumental to the factory’s success, including a student, who designed the water’s labels. “I must also appreciate one of our students of the Graphic Design Department, Mr. Moshood Ogunsanya, who designed the labels for our bottle and sachet water without making any demand, though arrangement is being made to pay him honorarium

Rector of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Obafemi Omokungbe, has charged newly-elected Deans of various schools to provide harmonious and conducive environment for teaching and learning.

Speaking at the inauguration of the new Deans, Omokungbe congratulated them for their electoral success.

He noted that the office of Dean also serves as the Rector’s representative in each School.  He admonished them to live by the rules of the College.

“As the Chairman of your School Board be open minded and treat each case on its merit. Be transparent and show respect for all shades of opinion. The ultimate, however, is for you to always play by the extant rules and regulations. Deans of School must take their place in the scheme of things and be held accountable for the activities of their staff and students. Therefore, this inauguration is not a welcome party but a solemn occasion to bring home publicly the enormity of the responsibilities of the office of the Deans. I wish you the strength, guidance and wisdom to cope with the demand of this office,” he said.

Also speaking, the Registrar Dr S.O. Momodu said it was the first time a ceremony held to inaugurate newly-elected deans.

He said the event was organised to stress the importance of the dean’s office, in view of the key role they play in determining the successful administration of the college.

Responding on behalf of the others, the Dean, School of Environmental Studies, Dr Julius Oke thanked the Management team for the initiative, urging that it should be followed by a retreat on what is expected of them.

He also pledged support the college management.

“I want on behalf of the Deans to pledge the support to the Rector and Management. As a major stakeholder in this project called YABATECH, we are behind you and when we say this.  It is in two ways as we pledge our supports and seek for Management encouragement and patience, we want likewise for Management to support, encourage and be patience with us knowing that as stakeholders we would not want this project to fail,” he said.

The new Deans are: Dr. Adekunle Adeyemi (School of Arts and Printing); Dr. Julius Oke (Environmental Studies); Mr. Aderohunmu Joseph (Science); Dr. Peter Okolie (Technology);  Ikpen Willington (Liberal Studies); Mr. Olalekan Alaba (Technical Education); Mr. Ojo Williams (Management and Business Studies); Ize Balogban (Engineering); and Mrs Olajumoke Shobande (Student Affairs).