Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, is undergoing significant transformation under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, emerging as a centre of academic excellence and digital innovation, Senior Adviser to the Governor, Mallam Saadu Salahu, has said.
Addressing a media parley organised by the Polytechnic’s Department of Strategic Communication and Media Studies, Salahu said the institution before 2019 “was like a vehicle with deflated tyres and a knocked engine,” but added that it is now on a path of modernization and growth.
Founded in 1971 to support the Second National Development Plan, Kwara State Polytechnic struggled for decades due to inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, and low staff morale. Salahu credited the revival to the present administration, citing timely salary payments, improved staff welfare, and multi-billion-naira investments in sustainable development.
“The Polytechnic now has seven academic institutes and 88 departments, ranking fourth among state-owned polytechnics in Nigeria. Projects such as the auditorium and TETFund hostel, previously abandoned, have been completed. Campus security has improved, and school fees have been reduced,” he said.
Salahu urged students to maintain professionalism and ethical conduct, noting the influence of strategic communication on societal choices. He also warned against cultism, drug abuse, and cybercrime, and called on alumni to support the institution through infrastructure and digital initiatives.
Representing the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajiya Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu, Mrs. Rodihat Yahaya praised students for their contributions, while Dr. Ghali Alaya, Chairman of the event, encouraged them to maximise learning opportunities. Rector Dr. Jimoh Abdul announced that the government had approved perimeter fencing to prevent land encroachment, assuring that no buildings would be demolished during the process.
“The Polytechnic faced challenges of land encroachment, which is a major concern. The governor has directed that no building should be demolished while security measures are implemented,” he said.
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