The Alumnus of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ojere,Abeokuta are inactive and sleeping, this inactivity is very evident as the institution continues to battle for survival without any luck.
From the end of Onikolobo down to Mapoly, the road is very bad and it has been like that for over 12 years. Even, the former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, a former Alumnus of the Polytechnic further worsened the state of the road by dualising it from Omida to the end of Onikolobo where it was abandoned.
In a bid to assume the role of the ‘jagaban’ of Politics in Ogun State,Senator Amosun toyed with the existence of the Polytechnic and relocated it to Imeko in Yewaland for political benefits and established MAUSTECH in Abeokuta. As we speak, both dreams never saw the light of the day but on the other side,Moshood Abiola Polytechnic became moribund till Prince Dapo Abiodun, current Governor of Ogun State reversed some of the policies to ensure MAPOLY retains the glory it used to be known with.
Despite this,MAPOLY has not fully regained its lost glory with the 200 Million annual intervention fund from the State Government and the Internal revenue generated by the school itself.
As we speak,MAPOLY is currently owing her part time lecturers wages for 6 semesters and more. The full time lecturers have also not received up to date salary. To make matters worse,the school is currently under staffed as many workers who resigned during the challenging period are yet to be replaced while those in are currently overworked.
One of the ways polytechnics are ranked is a stable academic calender,volume of research and convocation ceremonies holding as at when due. In the last Six years,Mapoly is yet to hold a formal convocation ceremony.
To make the matters worse,the condition of learning is bad as the cost of buying diesels with other associated cost is killing the institution, with students also bearing the brunt.
Recently, 94 set instituted “The project”, which will cost the sum of N80m,yet,we can have many more if the will is there.
MAPOLY, which used to be one of the best Polytechnics in Nigeria is presently suffering from result and transcript issues as former Students had faced a lot of disappointment and difficulties due to the difficulties of requesting transcripts and results.
Although the Polytechnic has gone partially digital,most of the actors in the system are non digitally compliant.
The alumni associations of other Institutions like University of Lagos,(UNILAG),University of Ibadan,(UI),Federal University of Technology,Akure(FUTA) and others having carried out lot of projects and provided funds to mend the paltry input of the Government has succeeded in raising the bar of their School. The question is,where are the Alumni of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic?
The Alumnus of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic are in all works of life. We have former governor of Ogun State and serving senator,Ibikunle Amosun,Alhaji Ayinde Soaga,a popular broadcaster,Bisi Alimi,Funke Akindele, Commissioners,Permanent Secretaries, people in advertising,Newspaper and many others doing fine in all works of life both home and abroad. The question is,why are they sleeping? Why are they so inactive?
Alumni Association are the back bone of any institution. It is high time all Alumni members of MAPOLY rise up to fundraise and construct projects to rescue the dying institution from collapse.
It can only be better.
Tosin Adesile writes from Abeokuta.