425 Graduate as Diri Gifts BYPOLY Two Buses, Osi Donates 50 Scholarships. By Chris Mark

425 Graduate as Diri Gifts BYPOLY Two Buses, Osi Donates 50 Scholarships

Governor hails TETFund, orders fencing, power extension as best graduate charges class to ‘strive for excellence’_

A total of 425 National Diploma and Higher National Diploma graduates were on Saturday awarded certificates at the maiden combined convocation ceremony of the Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri, in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.

Governor Douye Diri, at the ceremony, commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its consistent support towards the growth and development of tertiary education in the state, including the polytechnic.

Governor Diri, who is the Visitor to the institution, describing TETFund as a worthy partner in the educational advancement of the state, noted that the interventionist agency has remained instrumental in improving infrastructure and teaching facilities across state-owned higher institutions.

He said: “TETFund as an organ of the Federal Government has been part and parcel of the history of educational development in Bayelsa and indeed across Nigeria.

“The agency has proven to be very worthy partners of the Bayelsa State Government not only in this polytechnic but also in other higher institutions owned by the state. Through the zonal director, I send our goodwill to the Executive Secretary and the management for all they have been doing to improve teaching and learning in Bayelsa State.”

He stated that education remains the cardinal focus of his administration, stressing that it has deliberately shifted emphasis from white-collar education to technical and vocational training aimed at producing self-reliant graduates.

According to him, the establishment of science and technical colleges across the eight local government areas of the state was designed to feed institutions such as Bayelsa Polytechnic with technically skilled students.

“When we assumed office, the first thing on our minds was education, the second was education, and the third was education. That is why this government has prioritised technical and science education that equips our youths with practical skills to become employers of labour rather than job seekers.”

He said the government had established technical colleges across the state to prepare youths for careers in skilled labour, technology and entrepreneurship.

Governor Diri also highlighted the achievements recorded since the relocation of the institution to its permanent site, including accreditation of programmes, infrastructural expansion and improved academic standards.

He praised the management, lecturers and the host community for their resilience and commitment toward the growth of the institution.

The governor announced the approval of two Coaster buses for the institution and directed the Commissioner for Transport to ensure immediate procurement.

He also approved the fencing of the institution to enhance security and directed the Commissioner for Works to assess and report on the construction of internal roads and other infrastructure needs within the campus.

On electricity, he said the state government would extend power from the newly installed gas turbines to Sagbama through Aleibiri to Ekeremor rather than procure a diesel-powered generator for the institution.

The governor equally urged youths in the state to embrace technical education and skills acquisition programmes rather than depending on political patronage or white-collar jobs.

He charged the graduating students to be worthy ambassadors of the institution and Bayelsa State wherever they find themselves.

Earlier, Governor Diri commissioned the Entrepreneurship Skill Development Centre/Warehouse constructed by the state government as part of efforts to strengthen practical learning and innovation.

Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Wisdom Clinton Soreh, in his address, described the maiden convocation as a defining milestone in the institution’s history.

Dr. Soreh expressed gratitude to the state government for relentlessly supporting the growth and development of the institution.

He listed some of the achievements in the polytechnic, with the support of the state government, to include renovation and restructuring of academic buildings, construction of classrooms and offices, renovation of laboratories for Mass Communication, Computer Science, and Accountancy programmes as well as rehabilitation of the library.

Others were the establishment of a temporary skill acquisition centre, development of health service facilities, installation of solar-powered streetlights, water projects, and the provision of solar electricity for classrooms and offices.

Speaking as a development partner, Dr. Gideon Osi, President of Gosima Group, said: “As one of the development partners of this institution I congratulate them. They are lucky to have started in a very short while and they are already in their permanent site. I’m very happy for them.”

Dr. Osi backed the Governor’s education push: “As the Governor said, education is the best form of empowerment, even those who are in business that are doing very well, even those who are already in politics, go back to school because it is the bedrock of success in every aspect of life.”

He announced a major intervention: “When the school started we awarded scholarship to three intelligent students and they performed very well, today we awarded this set of scholarships, fifty in total.”

“The essence of this award is to encourage educational excellence, to support people who are from poor families that can’t afford to go to school, to commend the school on what they are doing,” he said. “We believe that with our support more people will have access to quality education, they can study at ease without wondering how the next bill will be paid.”

“At Gideon and Joy Life and Technical Foundation, the NGO arm of Gosima Group, we are ready and willing to support this young man to acquire more knowledge and help them to become successful in life,” Dr. Osi added.

Speaking on the sidelines, Hon. Tare Porri, member representing Ekeremor Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, captured the community’s mood: “You can see this community is very very excited and we are grateful to God almighty for giving Aleibiri the first ever higher institution in Ekeremor local government.”

Hon. Porri revealed the long struggle to relocate the school: “This institution was established since 2014 and ever since this community has made several attempts to move the institution to its original place of establishment which is Aleibiri. Upon the inauguration of His Excellency Governor Douye Diri, in 2025 His Excellency graciously approved the movement of this school to Aleibiri.”

“We cannot thank His Excellency the Governor enough, on behalf of the Aleibiri chiefs council, the CDC, the youths, the women, we want to sincerely thank and appreciate His Excellency for the movement of the institution to this community,” he added. “This will open the doors of education, a lot of minds will be transformed, this will attend to the technical education of our people.”

Speaking on behalf of the 2019–2025 graduating class, Odubo Miracle said: “It is with high humility I speak to you as the best graduating student of this our great institution, today we celebrate not just our certificates but the hard work, sacrifices and perseverance that brought us here.”

He thanked lecturers and parents “for your guidance, support and encouragement throughout this journey,” and told fellow graduates: “We faced challenges, overcame obstacles and made it to this proud moment. As we move on to the next phase of our lives, let us strive for excellence and make a positive impact wherever we go. Congratulations to the graduating class of 2019 to 2025. Happy convocation