Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has recognized the academic achievements of three outstanding students from Ogun State Polytechnic of Health and Allied Sciences, Ilese-Ijebu. At the institution’s third combined convocation ceremony held on Thursday, the governor awarded each of the top three graduating students a cash prize of N2.5 million, amounting to a total of N7.5 million.
The recipients of this honor include Famuyewa Aminat from the Dental Technology department, who secured a CGPA of 3.75 for the 2021/2022 academic year. Rasak Temilola, from the Health Information Management department, achieved a CGPA of 3.68, making her the best graduate of the 2022/2023 session. Kanyinsola Salami, from the Environmental Health Technology department, emerged as the overall best student for the 2023/2024 academic session with a CGPA of 3.94. Salami also claimed the title of the overall best-graduating student across all three sessions.
Representing Governor Abiodun at the event, the Special Adviser on Secondary Education, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, made the announcement of the monetary reward. The governor noted that this initiative aligns with his administration’s commitment to fostering an environment that encourages intellectual excellence and academic growth.
In his speech, Abiodun praised the institution’s management for its progress since its recent transformation into a polytechnic. He reaffirmed the state government’s dedication to investing in education, ensuring that students and institutions have the necessary resources to excel.
Abiodun said, “The state government’s commitment to continue to invest further in the education sector while ensuring that students and institutions have the necessary resources to excel remains sacrosanct. Education is the bedrock of any society, and we will continue to ensure that our students have access to quality education. The rewarding of these outstanding students today is a reflection of our commitment to nurturing the leaders of tomorrow.”
He also encouraged the graduating students to apply their knowledge in transforming the health sector, providing quality services that would improve the nation’s well-being.
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Rasaki Akinbo, spoke on the institution’s development since it became a polytechnic in 2023. He noted that as Nigeria’s first Polytechnic of Health, the institution is well-positioned to be a leading center for health and allied sciences education.
Akinbo expressed deep gratitude to the governor for his leadership and support in advancing the polytechnic. He stated that the institution has made significant progress, with 11 new academic programs accredited and five existing courses successfully re-accredited.
Among other achievements, Akinbo highlighted the completion of critical infrastructure projects, including the Medical Laboratory Technician and Health Information Management buildings, hostel renovations, and ongoing ICT center upgrades. He also mentioned that the institution’s Master Plan, which outlines its long-term development, is now being implemented.
The Chairman of the Polytechnic’s Governing Council, Kunle Kakejaiye, took the opportunity to request further government support for the institution’s infrastructure. He called for the immediate tarring of internal roads and additional funding to enhance the polytechnic’s facilities.
