The Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Temitope Alake, has said that the institution has put in place the necessary machinery to begin mass food production.
Alake explained that the move, expected to contribute immensely to ending the food scarcity in the country, would also boost the institution’s internally generated revenue.
The rector, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday at a press conference to commemorate his one year in office, however, called on well-meaning Nigerians to support the institution with tractors to enhance food cultivation on its vast farmlands.
He said, “This institution will embark on mass food production through collaborative efforts with the School of Agriculture.
“This will help in making food available for our people as the country currently goes through economic downturn. By the time this one is achieved, food scarcity will be gone.”
The rector said that the Polytechnic Venture had been revamped towards generating revenue, adding that bread and poultry production would be restored to life to help boost the institution’s IGR.
He assured that the institution under his watch would work towards the achievement of its three core mandates of training of professionals, ensuring acquisition of skills by students, and training of minds.
Alake, however, appealed to parents and guardians to allow their children to acquire sellable skills as he enjoined Nigerians to embrace vocational acquisition skills.
He reiterated the polytechnic’s commitment to training students to have manipulative skills to be job creators.
“The digital economy is reducing the need for manpower. That’s why we want to appeal to the parents to bring their wards to technical school. This will enable them to acquire manipulative and vocational skills so that they will be job creators”, Alake said.
The rector said that he had prioritised staff welfare and subsidised their transportation to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
He listed infrastructural projects executed during his one-year in office, including the on-going construction of the new School of Environmental building, the on-going construction of Mass Communication Complex and furnishing of 36-room Students’ Hostel building and the on-going construction of a block of four classrooms.
