From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has said he has put machinery in place to resuscitate the nine technical colleges from its moribund states.
The Special Adviser on Technical and Vocational Education, Dr Dapo Adesina, at a brainstorming session with principals of the nine colleges and the consultant in Osogbo, on Monday, said all the colleges would be resuscitated very soon.
Adesina who disclosed that he had met with former governors and stakeholders in the technical and vocational education to know the state of infrastructure, assured that the government of Adeleke would put an end to the problems in the sector.
Daily Sun recalled that former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola partnered with an Israeli firm – Skill G, to supply equipment worth N4 billion to the colleges but could only pay N2.7 billion to the firm.
Former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who took the delivery of the equipment after payment of about N1billion could not pay the balance, hence the firm locked up the equipment.
Also, former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola reportedly paid N100 million but could not complete the payment and the firm refused to open the workshop to allow students access to the equipment.
Adesina said he has met the Israeli firm and plans are on to solve the problems and make the colleges functional.
“The governor has given me the mandate to resuscitate the vocational and technical education. When I assumed this position. I went to meet former governor Oyinlola who gave me a breakdown of how the board for Technical education was and what has been done. I visited the special assistant to former governor Oyetola who was my predecessor.
“I contacted Prof Olu Aina who I referred to as the grandfather of technical and vocational education. With that knowledge, I sat down and I understood what technical and vocational education is. I proceeded to Abuja to meet Skill G who had been holding the equipment.
“Once we can get the Skill G back, Osun State will be the best and leading state in technical education because we have nine centres of colleges which are the highest in the nation.
“With the support of the governor, we’ll set a pace in technical education. Governor Adeleke is ready because it is among its five agenda. Education is of the topmost among them. Revamping technical and vocational education can increase our IGR in the state. It can cut unemployment in half. The governor inherited a government that he had to solve so many problems first. There will be restoration of the abandoned technical colleges,” Adesina said.