By Adebayo Adenrele
…seeks Alumni’s intervention to build formidable institution
The Ekiti State College of Technology, Ijero-Ekiti (EKSCOTECH), has announced plans to hold its maiden combined convocation ceremony as a full-fledged Polytechnic, with a total of 5,742 graduands expected to receive various National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND) and other certificates.
Thr Rector of the institution, Dr. Olufemi Olubamise, disclosed this at a press conference held at the institution to herald the week-long maiden combined convocation ceremony scheduled to run from Monday, September 21, to Sunday, September 27, 2026.
Olubamise said the graduands comprised students from the 2017/2018 academic session to the 2025/2026 academic session, whose convocations were delayed by various circumstances.
According to him, 343 graduands, representing 5.97%, obtained distinction, while 1,951, representing 33.98%, bagged upper credit.
He added that 2,720 graduands, representing 47.37%, obtained Lower Credit, while 661, representing 11.51%, graduated with Pass and 67, representing 1.17%, obtained Merit.
The Rector said the graduands were drawn from 30 programmes across 19 departments, describing the ceremony as historic because it would be the first convocation of the institution since its elevation to a full-fledged Polytechnic.
Olubamise also said the ceremony was a demonstration of the institution’s readiness to produce middle and high-level technical manpower needed to drive the economy in areas including health, technology, agriculture, engineering and applied sciences.
Other events include a corporate social responsibility and community service exercise within Ijero on Tuesday, September 22 and a novelty football match at the College Sports Complex on Wednesday, September 23.
The convocation lecture themed: “From Skills to Solutions: Repositioning Technical Education for Nigeria’s Technological and Industrial Development”, is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, at the Wunmi Oguniola Lecture Hall, with the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of BOUESTI, Ikere-Ekiti, Prof. Patrick Dipo Aina, as guest speaker.
Other activities include a Jumat service at the Ijero Central Mosque and the Rector’s Gala Night on Friday, September 25, while a thanksgiving service will be held at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Ijero-Ekiti, on Sunday, September 27, to round off the programme.
The main convocation ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 26, at the EKSCOTECH South Campus along Aramoko Road, Ijero-Ekiti.
The Owa Ajero of Ijeroland, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole,, will serve as Royal Father of the Day, while Dr. Femi Thomas is the Chairman of the Governing Council and Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, as Visitor and Special Guest of Honour.
His words, “Ladies and gentlemen of the press, this Maiden Combined Convocation is historic for at least three reasons:
“First, it is the first convocation of EKSCOTECH as a full-fledged Polytechnic, a celebration of a new identity, a broader mandate, and a bigger dream.
“Second, it is combined, bringing together 5,742 graduands from preceding years (from 2017/2018 academic session till date) whose convocations were delayed by circumstances, so that no graduate of this institution is left uncelebrated. Graduands will be conferred with National Diplomas and Higher National Diplomas across 19 departments with other certificate programmes during this ceremony.
“Third, it signals to Ekiti State, and to Nigeria at large, that EKSCOTECH is ready: ready to produce middle-level and high-level technical manpower that our economy desperately needs, in health, technology, agriculture, engineering, and the applied sciences.
“In this convocation cycle, a total of 5,742 graduands from 2017/2018 academic session set till the 2025/2026 set spanning thirty (30) programmes.
“Distinction- 343 (5.97%), Upper Credit – 1951 (33.98%), Lower Credit – 2720 (47.37%), Pass – 661 (11.51%) and Merit – 67 (1.17%).
“Permit me to place on record, for the benefit of the general public, the solid academic credentials of this institution.
“EKSCOTECH today runs 42 accredited courses, spread across five Schools, namely: The School of Clinical Technology, The School of Allied Health Sciences, The School of Engineering, The School of Finance, Business and Management Studies; and The School of Pure and Applied Sciences.
“This is not a promise of what we intend to become, this is what we are, here and now. All the programmes are fully accredited and open for learning.
“I must also make a special appeal to our great Alumni, whose lives and achievements remain living testimonies to the value of the education received from this institution.
“You are not merely former students; you are important stakeholders and ambassadors of EKSCOTECH. As we enter this new era as a Polytechnic, the synergy between the institution and its Alumni is highly essential to the sustained development, visibility, relevance, and global competitiveness of EKSCOTECH.
“I therefore call on all our Alumni, individually and collectively through a strong and vibrant Alumni Association, to come home and partner with us in building the Polytechnic of our collective dream.
“Your expertise, networks, mentorship, scholarships, donations, infrastructure support, research collaboration, industry linkages, and other forms of goodwill can make a transformational difference.
“Let us build a relationship in which EKSCOTECH continues to be proud of its products, while its products remain committed to the growth and advancement of their alma mater.
“The future of EKSCOTECH cannot be built by the institution alone. Government, Council, management, staff, students, friends, industry, the community, and especially our Alumni must work together. We earnestly seek your support, your ideas, your goodwill, and your partnership in taking EKSCOTECH to greater heights”.
