Kunle Adelabu
-States contributions to education sector
The Conference of Registrars of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria (COREG), has, again, paid a courtesy visit to the Obateru of Egbin Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Akeem Adeoriyomi Oyebo, twelve years after same body visited him.
Obateru, who hosted the Nigerian Registrars when he was barely four months on the throne of his ancestors, also used the visit, which was held in his palatial and ultra – modern Obateru palace that was built facing the lagoon and situated beside the Egbin Thermal Station which the is the biggest generating plant in Nigeria, to state his contributions to the development of education in the country.
The visit, which was part of the 82nd Regular Meeting of COREG, held on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, was led by the acting Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Dr Nurudeen Olaleye.
The COREG meeting , which had 70 Registrars in attendance, and held between Monday,14th and Wednesday, 16th March, 2022, was hosted by the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), which was formerly Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH)
Oba Oyebo, who said that he and his Olori, are products of a Polytechnic (Yaba College of Technology), also blessed the visiting institution administrators with traditional prayers.
“This is not the first time that we will be hosting the Conference of Registrars of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria (COREG). The first time was in the old palace and in that old palace, we have all that we inherited”, Obateru recalled.
Speaking on his contributions to education in Nigeria, Obateru, who said that he established his relationship with the LASPOTECH in 1999 through Mr Lanre Kuye who is now the Director, Information & Public Relations, LASUSTECH, said that he is today giving monetary awards to two best students in the Department of Art of the former Polytechnic in the name of his mother and father.
He also pledged to do more for LASUSTECH, starting with the powering of LASUSTECH with solar power.
The royal father said that in his capacity as a contractor, he has impacted on many institutions across the country and also stated his personal efforts to further develop the sector.
“Unfortunately, my community does not even have a government school. We used to have a Grammar School in Egbin but it was later politically moved to Ijede and named Luwasa Grammar School”, he said.
“We conceived the idea in August last year but by September, we established our own public primary school and as of today, we have up to Primary five level.
“By the grace of God Almighty, the school permanent site that we have started will be completed soon. We are already planning for our secondary school which is going to take off next year. That is my own contribution to the education sector in our country”.
He acknowledged that the father of Otunba Shakiru Adetona Bello, the Registrar of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) and formerly Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), was the one that discovered him and developed his interest in the Obaship and was briefly made the regent before he was picked by the Ifa Oracle as the Oba.
The royal father said that he did not regret picking the LASUSTECH Registrar as an Otunba because his service to the community has been of great impact.
He recalled that the former Registrar, Princess Adetope Kosoko who was in attendance at the visit, was the Registrar of LASPOTECH when COREG first visited him in 2010 when he was barely four months on the throne.
“I so much welcome and appreciate you. Your institutions that you are representing today, will become great and greater. People will know your tenures as Registrars for good”, he prayed for the visiting Registrars.
The acting Vice chancellor, Dr Nurudeen Olaleye, speaking, commended the royal father for the strategic location of his palace.
“I am particularly impressed by our visit to this Palace and for siting it right beside the thermal station (Egbin). What the king is saying is that he is the first protector of the Egbin Thermal Station and that he’s responsible for it if anything should happen”, he said.
He said that they learnt a lot visiting the thermal station.
The COREG Chairman, speaking earlier, said that it was a great honour for the members of the association to be in the presence of the royal father.
She also added that they had visited the Obateru palace as part of the 82nd meeting of the body and to receive royal blessings.
COREG Chairman also stated that the body’s meeting is move round the various institutions to share experience and for its members to be accustom other cultures and traditions.
Also at the visitation were Mr Momoh J. Jinadu. Bursar, LASUSTECH, Mr Lanre Kuye, Director, Information & Public Relations, LASUSTECH , Princess Adetope Kosoko, former Registrar, LASPOTECH and Mrs Aderonke Olufunke Ige, the immediate past Registrar, LASPOTECH, Mr Hameed Olalekan Aroyewun, an aspirant for the Ikorodu Constituency II seat in the Lagos State House of assembly, eminent individuals, traditional chiefs among others.
