Adebayo Adenrele
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has supported Government Technical Colleges, Otun, Government Technical College, Ijero and Government technical College, Igbara Odo, with over $250,000 (over 105 million naira) each, through the World Bank assisted IDEAS project, to enhance the capacity of the Nigerian skills development system to produce relevant skills for the formal and informal sectors.
Governor Kayode Fayemi, while presenting the cheques to the benefitting colleges at an
ceremony in Ado-Ekiti today, noted that the success of the project largely depends on the perception of Ekiti residents, especially the three host communities.
He implored everyone to embrace it and partake in the activities so that many people can benefit from the intervention.
He further assured them that his administration is more committed to providing enabling environment for developmental projects in the State, hence the need for all partakers to adhere strictly to all the Bank’s guidelines in the course of project implementation.
In his words, “IDEAS is a World Bank assisted project that is designed to fill skill gaps at both the public and private sectors. Ekiti State is one of the six benefitting states. The facilities at the Government Technical Colleges at Igbara Odo, Ijero and Otun will be upgraded and modernised. In addition, all the teachers and instructors will be adequately trained, so also in the private sector, skills of Master Craft Persons and their apprentices will be enhanced.”
“Many will recall that we launched the concept of Life Academics during my first term in office. We started the revamping of the Technical Colleges with the total reconstruction and equipping of the Government Technical College, Ado-Ekiti.”
“In a bid to improve the state technical colleges, Ekiti State Government recruited seventy (70) teaching staff and fifty-five (55) non-teaching staff to improve productivity. Perimeter fencing of the colleges is ongoing. Attention must be drawn to the fact that the state has experienced over 300% increase in students’ enrolment into our technical colleges; from 700 in 2018 to 2505 in 2022. This was made possible through constant sensitization and motivational programmes of the government.
“In fulfilment of the promise I made to Ekiti-kete at the beginning of this year, precisely on January 1, that I will work for you till the last day of this administration. I am keeping faith with that sacred pact, even with renewed vigour. From now till October 16, when I gracefully hand over the baton to our Governor-elect, events like this will be commonplace as we continue in our quest to make life better for the generality of our people, and bequeath a formidable foundation for our growth and economic stability.”
