The lawmaker representing Iseyin/Iwajowa/Kajola/Itesiwaju federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Abiodun Olasupo has explained why he and others fully supported efforts proprietor of SAF Polytechnic, Iseyin to get full accreditation.
SAF becomes the first private institution in the 10 Oke-ogun region of Oyo State with its accreditation earlier this week.
Iseyin-born Olasupo, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Compliance, hinted that the federal government may no more fund the establishment of new tertiary institutions in the country.
Speaking when the delegation of National Board of Technical Education, NBTE, led by its Executive Secretary, Dr Shehu Aliyu, visited the institution on accreditation exercise, Olasupo explained that government may tread this path so as to encourage increased involvements of private individuals and organisations in establishing tertiary institutions across the country.
He consequently echoed calls of residents of Iseyin for the NBTE to accredit SAF Polytechnic, Iseyin, to avail the youths of Oke-Ogun area the access to sound education.
“As a lawmaker, I am privileged to certain information which suggests that the federal government in the near future might not establish any tertiary institution in the country.”
“Opportunities like this from individuals should be encouraged to shore up the lapses and access to quality education by our youths.”
“The institution has provided quality and required facilities. We have come here to appeal NBTE to accredit the polytechnic. This will bring development to the area and allow our youth access quality education,” Olasupo said.
Deputy Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Abdulwasi Musah, representing Saki West State Constituency, Afeez Adeleke, representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju State Constituency and Luqman Balogun, representing Oorelope State Constituency also corroborated Olasupo’s remarks, saying education could not be left as the prerogative of government.
The Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba (Dr) AbdulGaniyu Salahudeen and a leader and Chairman, Iseyin Development Union (IDU), Pa Gbadebo Ogundiran, also appealed to the NBTE team to ensure justice was done.
The proprietor of the institution, Alhaji Ismail Folorunso, explained that standard facilities and programmes were in place to ensure that the polytechnic is accredited, adding that the institution the institution was established to encourage the youths to have access to quality education.
The leader of the NBTE team, Aliyu, expressed confidence that the facilities on ground at SAF Polytechnic were promising enough for the accreditation being sought.
“The report of this inspection will be taken to Abuja and the management will soon be given the good result by God’s grace,” Aliyu said.
