By Christy Anyanwu
•L-R: Mr Michael Fashakin, Ag HOD, Architect; Mrs Yetunde Alonge, Ag Deputy Rector, Academic; Dr Mrs Stella Mofunaya, Rector, RECTEM; Dr Sunday Onjewu, Director of Entrepreneurship, RECTEM; Comrade Oladimeji A. Ajibola, National Vice President, Special Duties, National Youth/Students Enterprise Group (NASEG); and Mr Felix Oyewole at the presentation of award by NASEG to RECTEM in Mowe, Ogun State on Wednesday
Redeemer’s College of Technology (RECTEM) has received the National Outstanding Entrepreneurship Performance Award (NOEPA) 2024 from a non-governmental organization, National Youth and Student Entrepreneurship Group (NASEG), for the college’s efforts towards training in entrepreneurship and a productive, economically active and sustainable society.
Present at the award ceremony, which was held recently in Mowe, Ogun State, were dignitaries, management and staff of the college.
On presenting the award to deputy rector of RECTEM, Mrs. Christianah Alonge, the group’s vice president, special duties, Comrade Oladimeji Ajibola, who represented the national president of NASEG, Comrade Abdulkazeem Soetan, said RECTEM was adjudged to be the most entrepreneurial college of all institutions in Nigeria, inclined towards practical, productive training, with innovation and a sure-footed administration that believes in youth capacity development and empowerment.
He also noted that the college had proven the possibility of a brighter future for Nigerian youths with acquisition of skills from institutions like RECTEM: “In all ramifications, this honour is in recognition of the passion for youth and student developmental projects at all times, the concern for youth development and the nation at large,” he said.
According to Soetan, identifying with the college was akin to identifying with light, greatness, innovation and a better Nigeria. “This honour that is bestowed on this college is to seek more support in remodeling and rebranding the entrepreneurship face in Nigeria and Africa through partnership with NASEG to meet demand across the world.
“There are a lot of programmes lined up in the association, from War Against Racism to War Against Corruption, the re-orientation of youths and students’ mindset for a better society and beyond the school certificate,” he said.
In her remarks, Mrs. Alonge stated that RECTEM had achieved a number of milestones since inception as the first private polytechnic accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in both national diploma and higher national diploma programmes, which, she said, contributed to its outstanding performance at national and international levels.
The college’s director of entrepreneurship, Dr. Sunday Onjewu, stated that RECTEM was not training students to be job seekers but to create wealth and gainful employment: “The NBTE is saying that students should not only be equipped in theory only but also in practice and in skills. I think the NBTE slogan has shifted from not that a certificate is not important but the emphasis now is on skills and not only certificates,” he said.