Kunle Adelabu
Former Head of Service, Lagos State, and the immediate past Chairman, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission (LSLGSC), Bashorun Babatunde Rotinwa, has donated a well-equipped Statistical Laboratory to the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu main campus.
The outgoing acting Rector of the institution, Mr Olumide Metilelu, today (Monday), commissioned the laboratory.
While speaking during the commissioning, Metilelu stated that the well-equipped laboratory would help the Polytechnic secure accreditation for its Higher National Diploma course in Statistics.
Equipment worth several millions of naira provided by the donor in the laboratory, situated within the School of Technology the institution, included 49 3-in1 systems, 16 tables, 49 chairs, 2 chiller air condition system, 1 automatic 30KVA regulator, 14 laboratory stools, technologist office, electrical wiring of the laboratory, interactive whiteboard and a projector.
Speaking further at the commissioning, Mr Metilelu commended Bashorun Rotinwa, who is a Fellow of the institution, for the exemplary gesture which he said “will enhance the accreditation for our HND Statistics course”.
The outgoing acting Rector described the commissioning as historic because the laboratory was equipped during his tenure and commissioned on his last day his office.
“This is an historic occasion for me personally because this is happening during my tenure and today being my last day in office as the acting Rector of the Polytechnic”, Mr Metilelu said.
“The opportunity that I have is a rare grace and I will support the incoming Rector to actualize the dream of the founding fathers of the Polytechnic”, he assured.
While commending the donor, Bashorun Rotinwa, Mr Metilelu said that his interest in the Polytechnic is not just accepting the Fellowship award but to also help in developing the institution.
“Because of the importance that you attached to the institution and your respect for the founding fathers, you accepted the fellowship honour conferred on you by the institution.
“But your interest in the institution is not just in accepting the honour but to also give back to the society and you have demonstrated that by donating equipment that would enhance the accreditation of our Statistics Higher National Diploma (HND) programme”, the acting Rector stated.
“This is one of the facilities that we are required to provide for one of our programmes to be accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). It will also come handy in our quest to transform in to a University”, he added.
“We are going to guide it jealously and make you proud.
“We are also glad that you have your friends around and we will be happy if they can be of any assistance to our institution by providing us with facilities and further promote the town and gown relationship”, the acting Rector appealed.
Bashorun Babatunde Rotinwa, in his remarks, thanked the Polytechnic community for the Fellowship award, adding that he is happy for being part of the ‘gigantic’ institution.
He assured the Polytechnic that he will continue to support its development and partner with others to ensure that the dreams of its founding fathers are achieved.
“As long as we are still alive, we are going to continue donating to the institution and l also call on other individuals, donor agencies and institutions to join us in making this Polytechnic a great institution”, Bashorun Rotinwa said.
Recalling his experience when studying abroad, Rotinwa stated that he donated the facilities to enhance study because he realized during his education abroad that enabling environment and adequate facilities can enhance studying.
“I was very rascally when in Nigeria and I later journeyed abroad for further education. While in the country, my academics only took 20% of my time and l was always on the streets, but when I got abroad, I realized that adequate facilities were provided and I have no reason not to face my studies squarely. I discovered that facilities can change students’ lives”, he recalled.
“This donation is geared towards providing facilities that can encourage students to read and excel”, he said.
“This is just part of what we have to do to develop the institution. This donation is just a tip of an iceberg compare to what we still plan to do. We are still going to do more”, Bashorun Rotinwa assured.
The Dean of the School of Technology, LASPOTECH, Mr Jimoh Taylor, in his own remarks, also stated that the donation will enhance the accreditation of the Polytechnic’s Statistics HND programme.
“The regulatory authority will have no choice than to grant us the accreditation. We only required to have 30 systems but here we are with 49 systems”, he said.
“This gesture will go a long way in placing the Polytechnic on a very good pedestal”.
Professor Emeritus and former Chairman, Governing Council of the Polytechnic, Prof. Kunle Ade Wahab who recalled how he donated the property that was donated to him to the Polytechnic as accommodation facilities for the staff of the institution, also commended the Bashorun Rotinwa’s gesture.
Today, the flats donated by Professor Wahab, known as LASPOTECH Staff quarters and located beside the Federal Low-Cost Housing Estate, is housing over 40 staff of the Polytechnic.
The eminent professor, who stated that Ikorodu Division is contributing to the development of the Polytechnic, also stated that the Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG) is sponsoring the construction of the Professor Adegbola Science Centre sited within the Polytechnic community, Ikorodu, to immortalize the late professor.
Also present at the commissioning were eminent personalities like Sir (Engr) Kayode Shoderu, Otunba Rafiu Adewale, Alhaji Adewale, Chief S.B. Bakare, Mr Sikiru Oloyede, Mrs Ige, former Registrar, LASPOTECH, Alhaji Monzor Olowosago, Publisher, Oriwu Sun, among many others.
