Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) Plc has recently donated a brand new Toyota Hiace bus to the School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) to mark the school’s annual lecture/exhibition/fundraising event, according to a press release signed by the school’s public relation’s officer, Felix Alade.
The group managing director of FMN, Mr. Paul Gbededo, an alumnus of the college, was ably represented by general service manager of FMN, Mr Olalekan Adebekun, who presented the bus to the college. He said that the donation was part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) to the school vis-a-vis the college.
During the opening remarks, the rector of the institution, Engr Obafemi Omokungbe commended the School of Technology for being a pacesetter; living up to expectation in the college, and for organising 2019 Annual lecture entitled, “Restructuring education and research systems for technological advancement in Nigeria” which is relevant and timely even at a time our dear country is yearning for improvement in every aspect of her national development.
The goal of our founding fathers, he said, for establishing the college in 1947 was to achieve national development using technology education as a veritable tool. In its over 70-year existence, the college has been at the forefront of technological and vocational education in Nigeria.
Education plays a key role in the development of any nation particularly in the areas of manpower development, research and innovations. In the face of rapid technological changes in the 21st century, tertiary institutions must keep abreast of contemporary global trends and be able to adapt cutting edge technologies, innovation and research for the growth and development of their environment.
It is important that education must be given priority even in the allocation of budget by the government. The relevant agencies and bodies must also pay particular attention to the course content and curriculum to meet the needs of a developing nation.
“As a responsible management, we would continue to support activities and programmes that will enhance academic standard and qualitative lecture delivery.
“We have redirected our energy to replicating the industry in the classroom. The Central Research Laboratory was for this reason re-energised and commissioned for research purpose. I want to assure you that the management will continue to provide support to the departments and schools in pursuit of their mandate.”
While receiving the bus, Omokungbe expressed appreciation to FMN for the donation, and congratulated the dean of the school, Dr Peter Okolie for using his influence to bring developmental projects to the school. He promised on behalf of the management to renovate 20 classrooms in the school of Technology as their contribution towards the fundraising, while Adebekun on behalf of FMN pledged to equip offices in the school with good furniture.
