The Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Hon. Adebowale Adebayo, has urged newly inducted members of the National Association of Technicians and Engineers (NATE) to think beyond tools and embrace innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship in their professional journey.
Speaking at the induction ceremony on Tuesday, held at the ICAN Hall of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Adebowale emphasized that while technical skills remain the foundation of the profession, the future of engineering and technical practice lies in the ability to adapt, lead, and create sustainable solutions in a rapidly changing world.
“You must begin to think beyond your tools. The modern technician is not just a handler of equipment but a thinker, a problem solver, and a creator of value,”.
Your induction today shows that, gradually, you’re stepping into the noble profession that electrifies nations’ development globally.
Falana commended the executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr ‘Seyi Makinde FNSE, for his youth-centric administration in the pacesetter State ditto developmental projects implemented across the nooks and crannies of the State.
Adebowale further reiterated that the inductees have a role to play in shaping the economy, creating jobs, and advancing technology locally and globally.
“Going down memory lane, as a product of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Adebowale applauded the brilliance of the polytechnic lecturers when it comes to innovation, stressing that the students are extremely lucky when it comes to the impact of the lecturers on innovation, creativity, and technology.
He also encouraged the inductees to continually invest in self-development and leverage digital technologies to remain competitive, adding that the Oyo State government remains committed to supporting youth in vocational and technical fields through various empowerment and training initiatives.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Oyo State Chairman of NATE, Engr Juliet Ethakpemi, welcomed the guest Speaker and the Chairman of the occasion Hon. Adebowale Adebayo Falana, for taking time out of their schedule to attend the 4th induction and award presentation.
She encouraged the inductee not to relent on NATE, stressing that they should package everything together to get their COREN certificate as a certified Engineer in their noble profession.
“Gradually, you’re putting your leg into the noble profession that electrifies nations’ development globally”
In his remarks at the occasion, the Head of the department of Civil Engineering, the polytechnic Ibadan, Engr A.G. Okeniyi acknowledged the presence of all invited guests as well as the Inductee parents and guardians.
Engr. Okeniyi reiterated that a fundamental truth confronting our nation is that Nigeria has yet to fully embrace the technological drive necessary for sustainable national development. Real and lasting progress is always anchored on technological innovation, which is the very foundation of the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) curricula in our Polytechnics.
To illustrate, in June 2014, China converted over 600 universities into Polytechnics to reduce excessive theoretical learning that fails to produce practical skills for national growth.
China deliberately focused on engineering, technology, and technical education, and today, graduates of technical and vocational institutions in China earn higher starting salaries than graduates from the nation’s top 100 universities. The evidence of this policy is seen in China’s global industrial and technological influence today.
“Unfortunately, the reverse seems to be the case in Nigeria. Many Technical Schools had been scrapped. Several Polytechnics have recently been converted to universities, such as Lagos State Polytechnic and Delta State Polytechnic among others. While this may appear politically attractive, it poses a serious challenge to technological and vocational advancement. Such conversions risk erasing the very foundation upon which realistic and sustainable national development is built”. He said
Here in Oyo State, at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, the Faculty of Engineering, particularly the Department of Civil Engineering, continues to uphold the mandate of producing competent, industry-ready technologists. Today, as our HND graduates are being inducted into the Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NTE) under the regulation of COREN, we celebrate their hard work, discipline, and dedi
Also, the Keynote Speaker, Engr. M.A. Busari Akere, while
explaining the concept of NATE, he stated that Engineering is beyond the four walls of the classroom, the inductees must be fully ready to learn more, be creative, and innovative in their dealings.
He, however urged them to be more disciplined, focused, and up to the task ahead of them.
The event featured an engineering tools display, a presentation of the NATE certificate, distinguished personality awards, and others.
E-signed:
Opeyemi Rasheed Socrates,
Head of the Media Unit to the Chairman,
Oyo State Agency for Youth Development.
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