After serving as Yaba College of Technology’s (YABATECH) rector for five years, Mr. Obafemi Omokungbe will formally step down from his position on January 29.
This was stated in a statement given to reporters on Wednesday in Lagos by Mr. Joe Ejiofor, the college’s deputy registrar.
He claims that after demonstrating leadership and providing high-quality services, the organisation has praised his unmatched dedication to the college’s progress.
According to the statement, Omokungbe, an engineer, became the rector of YABATECH on March 8, 2018, following a thorough, transparent selection procedure.
It stated that he began working at the college in 1993 as lecturer 111 and advanced through the ranks to be named chief lecturer in the school of civil engineering and natural resources in 2009.
“Omokungbe was also the head, Department of Civil Engineering from 2007 to 2009 and was a one-time president, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (YABATECH branch).
“He took over from an acting rector at the time, Dr (Mrs) Taiwo Oyelola. She was in the acting capacity from Dec. 10, 2017 to March 5, 2018,’’ Ejiofor said in the statement.
According to Ejiofor, several events have been planned to honour the milestone reached by the departing rector.
“One of such activities began last Friday with a special principal officer’s end-of-tenure meeting.
“There was also a courtesy visit by the newly constituted YABATECH Alumni Association Steering Committee, led by the President, Pastor Nureni Alabi.
“The climax of the ceremony will hold on Jan. 27, with a mock academic board meeting and a book presentation, all in honour of the outgoing rector,” he said.
The institution saw rapid transition in the fields of infrastructural renovations, capital and manpower development, and research and innovation, according to Ejiofor, who characterised Omokungbe’s term as successful in every conceivable way.
“Our dearest rector will be bowing out of service on Sunday, having committed and served extremely well, for good solid five years, transformation recorded cannot be over-emphasised.
“The college, which was ranked 8th by Webometrics before Omokungbe emerged rector is currently ranked first and best polytechnic in Nigeria for the third time since 2019.
“Most of the programmes run in the college have been accredited by the National Board for Technical Education and other accreditation agencies.
“These achievements have greatly improved teaching and learning in the college, as well as general wellbeing, welfare of both students and members of staff, which are evident,” he added.
Ejiofor said that Omokungbe’s dedication to the college’s progress had an effect on the Epe campus, which, in his opinion, had undergone tremendous growth and development.
He claimed that all of the campus’ internal road networks, as well as the new female dorm and School of Technical Education, had been finished and were now operational.
