The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Yabatech

  • YABATECH students march against drugs, rape

    To curb drug abuse and rape on their campus, students of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) with support  from their Rector, Mr Femi Omokungbe, and notable alumni of the institution have organised a 5,000-man walk and concert tagged: “The walk against drug abuse and rape in YABATECH”.

    During the walk organised by Elbrarach Worship Team, a Christian group on campus, participants moved round the campus bearing placards with messages like: “Codeine is not for refreshment”, “Mini skirt is not consent; no is no”, “Drug abuse can affect your mental health”.

    The concert, themed: “An evening with the King”, which held at the packed YABATECH Sport Complex, featured popular songstress, Shola Allyson Obaniyi as one of the artistes.

    Addressing the students, the Rector, who was represented by Dean Student’s Affair, Mrs Olape Shobande, urged them to say no to drug abuse and rape, and extricate themselves from codeine and tramadol use.

    She praised the students, organisers, YABATECH Magazine, YCTCU and Elbrarach for bringing out such meritorious initiative aimed at making the school more learning- condusive and student-friendly.

    Popular fashion designer and alumna, Ejiro Amos Tafiri, who was also at the event, showed utmost approval for what the students did.

    She said: “Rape in our society has been on the high side.  It is high time we speak out.”

    The Editor in Chief of YABATECH Magazine, Ohore Emmanuel, spoke about the concert being the first of its kind in the history of YABATECH.

    He said: “Never in the history of YABATECH has a programme of such magnitude happened. The substances, though a gradual process, have been killing our youths and it is high time we talked about it. It is a good thing that the students have realised the problem and decided to tackle it as that has shown good patriotism in them.”

    YABATECH Alumni Association President, Pastor Olufemi Martins, a popular comedian, Owen G and patron of the YABATECH Magazine, Dr Olurotimi Ajibola, were present at the event.

  • YABATECH names deputy rectors

    The Governing Council of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has approved the appointment of Dr Kehinde Osifala and Mrs Titilayo Ukabam as Deputy Rectors, Academics and Administration.

    They replace Dr Taye Oyelola and Mr Taofeek Raheem whose tenure expired recently.

    Osifala joined YABATECH as Lecturer III in 1984 and rose through the ranks to become Chief Lecturer in Civil Engineering Department, School of Civil Engineering and Natural Resources in 2002.

    He was at various times Head, Department of Civil Engineering (1997 – 2002); overseeing Head, Physical Planning Unit (1995 – 2001) and Dean, School of Engineering (2005 – 2008).  Until his appointment, he was Director, Physical Planning Unit of the College.

    A Fellow, Nigerian Society of Engineers (2009), Osifala is a well -known researcher who won four scholarships and has published numerous scholarly articles; presented both home and abroad.

    He has served on several Management/Academic Board committees and belongs to many professional bodies.

    The Deputy Rector Administration, Mrs Ukabam, a Chief Lecturer in the Department of Estate Management, joined YABATECH in 1986. She became Head, Department of Estate Management (1995 – 2002) and Dean, School of Environmental Studies (2007 – 2010). She was Director, Internal Quality Assurance before she became Deputy Rector.

    Aside belonging to many professional bodies, she is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyor and Valuers, a member of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria and a member of African Real Estate Society.

  • YABATECH, Chinese Poly to partner on railroad training

    The Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) is in talks with a Chinese Polytechnic, Guangzhou Panyu, on developing capacity in the area of rail and road transportation development.

    The partnership was brokered by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, (CCECC), which plies its construction trade in Nigeria, as part of the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility.

    Vice President of the Guangzhou Panyu Polytechnic, Liu Jiahuan, noted that Nigeria’s achievements in the area of technical education were made known through the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

    “China and Nigeria have a long standing socio- economic relationship and it is expected that CCECC will take advantage of this relationship by keying into Nigeria’s transportation development via rail transportation”, said the Guangzhou Panyu Polytechnic Vice President, Liu Jiahuan.

    “Through the Railway Corporation, we know that YABATECH, the cradle of higher learning is one of the best institutions in Nigeria and as a first class polytechnic, we are desirable to cooperate with her in the field of technical and vocational training,” said Jiahuan when he visited YABATECH.

    The two institutions will cooperate in the areas of mechanical, civil, architecture and construction engineering technology.

    In attendance were the YABATECH management team including the Rector, Mr Obafemi Omokungbe who was represented by the Deputy Rector Academics, Dr Taye Oyelola; representatives of Guangzhou Panyu Polytechnic, and a representative of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Lagos District Manager, Mr Jerey Oche.

  • Author gifts books to YABATECH

    The former Head of Department (HOD) Urban and Regional Planning, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Mrs Catherine Kayode George has donated two of her books to six departments of the College.

    Mrs George, a Town Planner, presented the books when she visited the Rector, Mr Obafemi Omokungbe, an engineer.

    Two copies of each of the books, “Basic Principles and Methods of Urban & Regional Planning 4th Edition” and “Urbanisation and the Lagos Mega City” were donated to the Departmental libraries of the Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture, Building Technology, Estate Management, Surveying and Geo-informatics and Quantity Surveying.

    Mrs George said she visited YABATECH to appreciate the College for providing her an enabling environment to work between 1986 and 2000 as a lecturer.  She retired as the Head of Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

    She said: “I am pleased to announce to you about my publication “Basic Principles and Methods of Urban & Regional Planning 4th Edition” which was launched at the Annual General Meeting of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Lagos State chapter Nigeria on September 29, 2016.

    “The book has been edited by Nigerian academia and Professionals and is a recommended text for Environmental Science students in tertiary institutions. The book discusses on more principles of Urban and Regional Planning with examples from the country’s situation; also on some urban environmental problems in Lagos Mega-City. It is a useful reference material for governmental offices, consultants in the construction industry, lecturer and students in local and foreign tertiary institutions. It covers syllabus for examination by Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria for Urban & Regional Planning.”

    She said the second book, Urbanisation and the Lagos Mega City, captures the phenomenal growth of Lagos, the attendant environmental challenges and efforts made to address the issues. It highlights the paotential of investment tourism in Lagos Mega-City.

    She said it would be an asset to private and public libraries and for multi-national corporate bodies, Town Planning Professionals, allied disciplines and government offices as references.

    “Having lived in Lagos from 1965-till date, I have witnessed a greater part of the phenomenal growth of Lagos in my 45 years of Town Planning professional experience. My education at the University of Melbourne, Australia (1971-1972) has also exposed me to international norms in planning theory and practice. I am a fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) England, and keep in touch with the RTPI by maintaining my membership.

    “In writing both books, I have spared no cost or expense for best professional practice. Both books also feature some projects I worked on as a foundation staff in Lagos State Civil Service at Ikeja Area Planning Authority/LSDPC (1965-1979); as a lecturer in Urban and Regional Planning at Lagos State Polytechnic (December 1985-June 1986), at YABATECH as HOD, Urban & Regional Planning (July 1986-2000), at Lagos State University (2011-2013), and as a Town Planning Consultant (1980-1985, 2000-2017). I have been external examiner and moderator to University of Lagos, YABATECH and other tertiary institutions on their Urban and Regional Planning programmes.

    “The research and production of the two publications were self-motivated and entirely self-financed. It is my humble contribution to national human resources development and I believe that the College community (lectures and students) will find both books very useful. “

    The Rector thanked Mrs George for remembering the College 18 years after retirement, also for the kind gesture of presenting inestimable valuable materials to the College; and commended her resilient spirit of still writing even though she has retired. He encouraged her not to relent because the books will remain a lasting legacy that people will refer to in years to come. He thereby on behalf of the Management bought 10 copies each of the two publications to the College Library with substantial amount.

  • Yabatech acquires software for detecting plagiarism

    The Governing Council of Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) on Wednesday said it had acquired a world-class security software capable of detecting any act of plagiarism in write-ups submitted by students and lecturers.

    Mr Lateef Fagbemi, Chairman, Governing Council of the college stated this at the 11th International Science, Technology, Education, Arts, Management and Social Sciences (iSTEAMS) Conference in Lagos.

    Fagbemi spoke on “Plagiarism and Its Legal Implications Within Academic Environments: Consequences On The Institutions And Offender”.

    The three-day conference organised by the Research Nexus Africa Network, in collaboration with the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ends on June 29.

    Fagbemi said the software would detect the slightest act of plagiarism and copyright.

    According to him, with the software, the college is confident that products, are now better secured and their final works, much more reassuring.

    He said the conference was apt as it brings to the front burner, the unfortunate situation of plagiarism.

    “Educational institutions must step up the quality control mechanisms and academic papers submitted by writers must be thoroughly checked to detect a possibility of plagiarism.

    “Yabatech has now acquired world-class security software that can detect even the slightest act of plagiarism in write-ups submitted by our students and lecturers.

    “This is where the deployment of technology comes in.

    “Relevant software must be acquired by our institutions to detect any possible case of plagiarism and be able to nip it in the bud,’’ he said.

    Fagbemi further remarked that plagiarism was prevalent, not only in tertiary institutions but also in science, journalism, literature, film creation and other areas.

    He said that in the academic and intellectual industry, plagiarism was a serious ethical offence.

    According to him, plagiarism cases could be detected even in works of famous writers, songs, filmmakers, philosopher, scientist, and public workers, among others.

    “Plagiarism is not in itself a crime, but can constitute copyright infringement.’’

    Fagbemi recommended that institutions must step-up the quality control mechanisms, while government must set up legislative intervention in curbing the problem of plagiarism.

    “ Our laws must be re-jigged to cater for the menace as a specific problem.

    “A specific problem deserves a special and deliberate solution.

    “The legislature must promulgate laws that specifically and pointedly address plagiarism, and all its variance, taking it away from the adaptation of the copyright laws, under which it is currently treated.’’

    Also speaking, Dr Obafemi Bank-Olemoh, Leadership/Business Intelligence expert at Caleb Business School, Lagos urged the Federal Government to develop the human resource capital to achieve industrialisation.

    Bank-Olemoh said the three tiers of government needed to re-access and reinforce the implementation of Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) policies.

    He spoke in a paper titled: “Nigeria’s Industrialisation Drive cannot succeed if not anchored on the Investment and Development of Human Resource Capital; particularly on Technical Vocational Education (TVE)”.

    He said the success of Free Trade Zones hinged on addressing infrastructure deficit by appropriate funding.

    He noted that sustainability of Nigerian Industrial Zones could not be achieved if the expatriate quota abuse is not controlled.

    According to him, the integration system pathway should be adopted to bring together TVE curriculum, academic and applied curriculum, the labour market demands, institutions and the society at large.

    “The focus now should be on the development of a viable natural system of a vocational and technical education programme that will have easy access and exit learning pathways.

    “It must be validated by accredited learning that will lead to work or continued progress along another learning pathway.

    “This will help ginger youths and adults to see TVE as challenging and worthwhile,’’ he said.

    Mr Obafemi Omokungbe, Rector, Yabatech commended iSTEAMS for organising the conference and urged participants to be active in all sessions.

  • Court orders YABATECH to reinstate, pay whistle-blower bursar N20m

    Justice O. A. Obaseki-Osaghae of the National Industrial Court (NIC) has ordered the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) to recall Mr Olu Ibirogba, its Bursar, who was sacked in July 2015 for exposing alleged corruption in the institution.

    She also awarded N20 million damages to Ibirogba for his unfair dismissal.

    This is besides the payment of all his salaries and entitlement since he was removed from his job.

    The money is to be paid within 21 days, or it will attract 10 per cent interest.

    The police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are also to begin investigations into Ibirogba’s allegations against the administration of Dr Kudirat Ladipo, who was the Rector when the bursar was sacked in 2015.

    In the judgment, a copy of which our correspondent obtained yesterday, the judge chided YABATECH’s lawyer Omolola Satar for disrespecting the judicial process.

    Declaring Ibirogba’s sack null and void, she said it was “in gross violation of Section 17 (3) of the Federal Polytechnic Act, extant civil service rules and an affront to the judgement of this court”.

    Justice Obaseki-Osaghae said: “I find that there was a calculated and deliberate attempt by the defendants to subvert the cause and administration of justice. This is one of the instances the court must grant punitive costs to forestall a repeat of the contemptuous actions of the defendants.

    “Consequently, I award N20,000,000.00 as punitive damages jointly and severally against the defendants for the unjust termination of the claimant’s appointment and deliberate attempt by the defendants to subvert the cause of justice.”

  • ReadySetWork berths at YABATECH

    The Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) played host to the ReadySetWork (RSW) team led by the Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh on Tuesday.

    Students of the institution would be participating in the initiative of the state government which is now in its third year for the first time.

    Those selected will join students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State University (LASU),  Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Lagos State College of Health Technology, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), and the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), and the Caleb University Imota for the 13-week programme starting in July.

    Final year students gathered in the multipurpose hall of the institution for the sensitization programme learnt from Bank-Olemoh how to benefit from the work readiness and entrepreneurship initiative designed to prepare them for productive careers after graduation.

    The Special Adviser told the students they had to complete an online course in the RSW Academy first before applying to be selected among the 5,000 that would participate in the 13-week face-to-face sessions.

    To graduate from the RSW, Bank-Olemoh said the students had to make 11 weeks of classes and complete all assignments.  He said lateness would not be tolerated in any of the three centres (LASU, LASPOTECH and UNILAG) the RSW sessions will hold.

    He counseled the students to give their best during the programme and use the opportunity to change their lives for good.

    “The programme will run for 13 weeks and you must attend 11 weeks; no excuses – even if your mother, father or I die.  If you are going to do well in your life, it is your attitude that matters.  There are 180 million people in Nigeria and 65 per cent of our population is young.  That is about 100 million. Imagine the 100 million have an average of four children, which will be 400 million.  If 200 million die, we will still have over 300 million people in Nigeria.  Where will they go to without jobs?  If you don’t succeed Nigeria will fail.  Your life is in your hands.  We are not asking about your class of grades.  It does not stop you from succeeding in life.  Just make the best of this opportunity,” he said.

    On his part, the Rector, Mr Obafemi Omokungbe, an engineer, thanked the Lagos State government for including YABATECH among the beneficiary schools.  He said the programme would add value to the students.  He promised to provide buses to transport selected students to the various centres.

    “I will enjoin all other states to take cue from Lagos State.  If this is done, the issue of unemployment will be eradicated.  With this, my institution will key into it and we will make sure we have representatives every year.  We will give them school bus to take them to their centres.  I like that idea of mixing them up so they can share ideas,” he said.

  • YABATECH prays for new leaders

    Torrents of prayers went up to God at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) Tuesday as Christians and Muslims dedicated the new College administration to God.

    The invocation, held simultaneously at the Chapel of Christ our Redeemer and the Mosque, centered on cleansing for the college and a new season of glory on the new Rector, Obafemi Omokungbe, the new Registrar, Dr Sikiru Momodu, Governing Council and the entire College.

    The Rector, read from Psalm 30:1-4 before the exhortation by the Regional Overseer of the Mountain of  Fire, Lagos Island, Rev. Julius Okeneye.

    Quoting 2 Chronicles 1:7, Okeneye charged the new administration to seek God’s wisdom and understanding in the running of the College.

    “When the righteous rule, the people rejoice. The overwhelming turn out at this occasion is evidence of your acceptance by the people, and it is all because of your disposition to defending the workers. Those things you disapproved in those years, it is time to put them right,” he said.

    The congregation led by guest prayer warriors prayed for the peace of the college, the state, the nation, and the new administration.

    Also at the Mosque, the Imams led by Alhaji Busari Olore thanked God for the new administration and the emergence of an old boy as Rector of the College for the first time in 70 years.

    The Imams prayed for peace and progress throughout the Rector’s tenure.

  • Omokugbe is Yabatech Rector

    Omokugbe is Yabatech Rector

    The federal government on Tuesday announced Engineer Obafemi Omokungbe, 55, the Rector of Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech).

    He is the first alumnus of the 70-year old institution to be appointed Rector. He succeeded Dr. Margaret Kudirat Ladipo, who completed her tenure December 10, 2017.

    Announcing the appointment, the Chairman, Yabatech Governing Council, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) said, “Record is made today, Omokungbe has been approved by the Minister for Education and the Presidency.

    “The Governing Council had adopted the best to get the best and God has given us the best. Indeed, it is all that is well, that ends well. I must say, it is easier to get to the top of the ladder but it requires ten times the initial effort to sustain yourself at the top. That means, as you have come out in large number to solidarize with the new Rector, you must keep praying for him to succeed.”

    He saluted the two runner ups, Drs. Raheem Omobayo and Kayode Aledare for their large heartedness. “We did not have any regrets forwarding three great names from which Omokungbe was selected.”

    Read Also: ASUP urges FG to appoint substantive rector for Yabatech

    He thanked the federal government for not throwing overboard the recommendations of the Council.

    Omokungbe joined the services of Yabatech as Lecturer III in 1993 and rose through the ranks to become a Chief Lecturer in the Civil Engineering Department, School of Civil Engineering and Natural Resources, Yabatech in 2009.

    He was Head, Department of Civil Engineering (2007 – 2009) and had published many scholarly articles and used his professional knowhow to impact on the College structural development programmes. Besides, he was a former president of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (Yabatech Branch).

    Addressing the staff yesterday, Omokungbe said the journey ahead was a collective one, declaring there was no victor, no vanquished, he said, “We shall do it together. There is a lot to do, and there is a lot to fix, we shall do them and we shall fix them, but give me time. I have served you diligently before, and I offer to serve you again.”

    He is married with children.

     

  • Yabatech at 70

    Yabatech at 70

    •How to make a great school greater

    As the Yaba College of Technology approaches its Platinum Jubilee, there must be a renewed focus on ensuring that its mission and vision are refined to meet the contemporary needs of Nigeria.

    Established in 1947 as the Yaba Technical Institute, Yabatech, as it is fondly known, is the oldest tertiary institution in the country. It succeeded the Yaba Higher College as an institution designed to produce the mid-level technical and administrative manpower that colonial Nigeria required in increasingly greater amounts.

    The Yaba College of Technology is also the foremost polytechnic in Nigeria, offering a wide range of courses covering science, engineering, information science, agriculture, and business and management.

    Long before university education became the norm, Yabatech was the major supplier of the artisans and professionals who drove the growth of business and industry in Lagos and the rest of Nigeria. Over the past seven decades, it has produced an estimated 50,000 graduates and currently has a student strength of about 15,000 spread over nine academic schools and two campuses.

    Distinguished Nigerians who are alumni of Yabatech include former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Rear Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, the late Mr. Cyprian Ekwensi, one of the country’s foremost novelists, and Mr. Fola Adeola, co-founder and ex-CEO of GT Bank. In addition, it has produced many visual artists and sculptors who have garnered international renown.

    However, it has not been all smooth sailing. For a long time, holders of Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates faced discrimination in employment and conditions of service compared to university degree holders. HNDs could not be used as qualification to Master’s degree programmes. Fortunately, these problems are slowly being resolved.

    The Yaba College of Technology and other polytechnics have long agitated for transformation to university status. In November 2006, the then Minister for Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, declared that Yabatech would now be known as the City University of Lagos, but the proposal was later scrapped. In August 2016, it was announced that Yabatech and the Kaduna Polytechnic had become “city universities,” only for the claim to be later denied by the Federal Government. The Senate initiated procedures to begin the much-awaited upgrade in November last year.

    These efforts to transform itself reveal a fundamental problem facing Yabatech, namely the vexed question of exactly what kind of tertiary institution it is, and what it should be doing as a consequence.

    Given its age and achievements, as well as the requirements of the Nigerian economy, it is clear that Yabatech should focus on the so-called STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) courses. In addition, the strategic location of its main campus in the heart of the Lagos metropolis makes the institution ideal for business and management courses.

    The attainment of university status would definitely enhance the operations of Yabatech and clarify its mission and vision. It is definitely old enough; its facilities are superior to those found in many other Nigerian universities, and with the arguable exception of the University of Ibadan, no other tertiary institution can boast of a richer tradition of learning.

    However, staff of Yabatech must be prepared to undertake the educational and other modifications that are a natural corollary of transforming to a university. The institution must also ensure that it remains true to its core mandate of producing well-trained manpower capable of driving the technological, management and business goals of the nation.

    In this regard, it should seek to imitate the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) which has built upon a tradition of distinction to become one of the world’s foremost educational institutions.

    The Yaba College of Technology has come a long way and recorded many enviable achievements. It is to be sincerely wished that the next 70 years will be characterised by even greater feats of educational excellence.