By - Ayobami Bakare
Edited- Rainat Ilemobayo
Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, came alive on Friday, October 24, 2025, as the institution held its long-awaited 12th–23rd Combined Convocation Ceremony at the Polytechnic Sports Complex.
The colourful event drew dignitaries, government officials, staff, alumni, parents, and students who gathered to celebrate academic excellence, innovation, and resilience.
The ceremony began with prayers and the recitation of the National and RUGIPO Anthems before the official commencement of proceedings.
In his welcome address, the Acting Rector, Dr. Olorunwa Simeon Adegun, expressed deep appreciation to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for his timely and lifesaving intervention that restored hope to the institution.
He recalled that the Polytechnic, once among the best in Ondo State, was almost crippled by financial crises and management setbacks before the governor’s intervention.
According to him, staff members were owed 14 months’ salary arrears, and morale across the campus was at its lowest until the Aiyedatiwa administration cleared 10 months of the backlog, reopened the Staff School, and rekindled confidence among workers.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, in his address, congratulated the graduating students and commended the management for organizing the long-overdue convocation after more than a decade.
He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to education, assuring that the remaining three months of unpaid salaries would soon be settled.
The governor emphasized that education remains one of the key priorities of his administration and promised continued infrastructural support for RUGIPO.
A student of the Staff School, Adepoju Mazeeda, also took the stage to thank the governor for reopening their school while appealing for classroom renovation and the provision of a school bus.
The President of the RUGIPO Alumni Association, Engr. Adesina Adeola Victor, lauded Governor Aiyedatiwa’s passion for education and his presence at the event.
He urged the state government to appoint a substantive governing council chairman to strengthen leadership within the institution.
Engr. Adesina also advised the graduating students to be worthy ambassadors of their alma mater and to always remember to give back to the institution.
Delivering a goodwill message, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, represented by the NBTE Director (Southwest), Mr. Ayo Arobi, congratulated RUGIPO for breaking a 12-year convocation jinx.
He revealed that the Polytechnic now has 89 accredited programmes — 43 at the National Diploma (ND) level and 46 at the Higher National Diploma (HND) level.
Arobi added that the institution has gained both local and international recognition and is among the few polytechnics approved by NBTE to run Open, Distance, and Flexible e-Learning.
He cautioned against converting polytechnics into universities, noting that “technology-driven education, which thrives in polytechnics, is what industries need to advance the nation.”
The event climaxed with the presentation of awards and prizes to outstanding students.
Afolabi Toheeb Olumide from the Department of Mass Communication emerged as the Best Overall HND Student and recipient of the Rector’s Prize.
Sunday Blessing Oseiza from the Faculty of Agricultural Technology won the award for Best Overall ND Student.
Other awardees included Adebawo Ademolu Edamisan (Mathematics and Statistics) and Popoola Omobolanle Grace (Hospitality Management) in the Faculty of Applied Sciences.
Afotarane Faith Oluwadunsin and Adesanoye Oluwabusayo Favour (Accountancy) won in the Faculty of Business Studies, while Salako Oluwaseun Emmanuel and Olafehinti Festus Olamide (Electrical Engineering) were honoured in the Faculty of Engineering.
Adebayo Olawunmi Oluwatobiloba (Estate Management) and Adewumi Ayodeji Olugbenga (Survey and Geo-informatics) emerged winners in the Faculty of Environmental Studies.
In the Faculty of Social Sciences and Communication Studies, Afolabi Toheeb Olumide (Mass Communication) and Sikiru Azeezat Abidemi (Library and Information Science) took home the top honours.
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