The national body of the Alumni association of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti has called on the Federal Government to provide adequate, and modern equipments to the Polytechnic for it to produce high quality graduates.

The President of the association, Dr Oyedokun Abiodun,madevtgus call after donating a sum of N5million to the institution, as relief package to cushioning the effect of the recent rainstorms disaster. Dr Oyedokun, who lamented the large-scale destruction of the institution’s property by the rainstorm said the donation was the association’s widow’s mite to support the management.

Oyedokun used the occasion to appreciate the alumni chapters in Rivers, Delta, FCT, Lagos, Oyo, Ekiti and Europe for their financial supports as he appealed to some members who had made promises to redeem their pledges. He said the institution had already acknowledged receipt of the said N5m, and at the same time, “we still want the whole world to know about the problem in the polytechnic”.

The president, called on governments at all levels, to see polytechnic education, as the only leeway, towards the desired progress and development, for the country. “In April this year, the alumni association, received the sad news of the havoc, done by the torrential rainfall on the school premises.

“Our independent investigations have revealed that the damage done to properties, runs into several millions of Naira, but we thank God that the various reports we got, did not include any loss of life. It is in view of this ugly development, that the alumni association, deemed it fit to give the N5million sum, as our widow’s mite, towards the repair of the damages”.

He went on: “The Polytechnics are known for practicals, but when the governments failed to provide adequate, and modern equipment, then that means, without modern equipment for practical, polytechnic products will not be able to do anything.

“That is why we are appealing to the Federal and State Governments, to look into that. If you want to destroy a nation, you don’t need to hold guns, just destroy their educational system first, and you are done!

“Our plea, therefore, is that the government should not allow this to happen to polytechnic education, they should equip the institutions, so that they can be sounder, practically”. He also said: “We strongly believe that polytechnic products will be self-sufficient, self-reliant.

“Most of them will not look for white-collar jobs, as our counterparts in other places, do. They can always be on their own”. He commended the current Rector of the Polytechnic, as somebody that had been able to manage the institution very well.

“No crisis, since he assumed office. The alumni association is giving him kudos for this, we believe that through him, this institution will move forward.

“We urgently appeal to the various governments, to fashion increased support, in terms of funding, and supply of modern equipment. Additionally, we call for the elimination of the dichotomy between HND and BSC graduates to further encourage our students in the polytechnic system.

“We have been on this particular subject matter, for a long time, the former Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, when the Forum of Nigerian Polytechnics Alumni Association visited him to furnish him with the problems faced in the polytechnics sector, he promised to work on them, but unfortunately, before he left office, he could not address some of the things we are agitating for. Among those issues are: we want the establishment of National Polytechnics Commission, we want the elimination of the dichotomy between HND and BSC holders, we want Polytechnics to be upgraded to degree awarding institutions, without changing the initial structure.

“Let them remain Polytechnics. In China, about 600 universities were converted to polytechnics, because they realized that it is only through the polytechnics that they can advance.

“We want the polytechnics to remain relevant. What we are saying is that we don’t want to be inferior in our own system.

“Before, polytechnic products, even in the system were being treated as second hand graduates.”