The Board, Staff and Students of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos at the weekend celebrate its outgoing rector Engr. Obafemi Omokungbe as he ends his tenure as the Rector of the institution.
The ceremony which was marked with a special academic board session also had a book launched in honour of the celebrant.
The book, an autobiography of Engr. Omokungbe entitled: ‘Beginning From The End’ was launched as part of the celebrations.
Welcoming guest to the ceremony, the registrar of the College, Dr. Kayode Momodu said it was with mixed feelings that the community is sending forth the outgoing rector, because he has done exceedingly well in all that concerns the Institution.
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He added that his good works will always be part of the Polytechnic’s history.
He thanked the guests for their support in celebrating the outgoing rector who he described as someone who has taking Yabatech to the next level.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Chairman Governing Council, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN said the Council did not regret choosing the outgoing rector as his performance has shown that he is worthy of the position.
“It has also shown that it is better to look inward while looking for someone to take this position because as an alumnus of the Institution and a staff, Engr. Omokungbe has proved himself in the last five years.”
He however thanked the academic board, staff and students of the polytechnic for their support saying that there was no way there won’t be complaints but they made the journey to be smooth.
Listing the achievements of the Institution under the outgoing rector, Prince Fagbemi said in the last five years the school had witnessed uninterrupted academic sessions, rated the best polytechnic for four consecutive years and accreditation of more than 60 courses in the school, among others.
The Chairman used the opportunity to appeal to the polytechnic community to support anyone taking the baton from Engr. Omokungbe.
Speaking to journalists, the outgoing rector, Engr. Obafemi Omokungbe described his five-year tenure as a challenging one adding that he almost quit looking at what he met on ground.
He said the roads were bad, the infrastructure was dilapidated but with the help of God and staff members of the Institution, he was courageous to face and tackle the challenges.
“I am indeed proud of my colleagues who are always ready to support me whenever I call upon them, because this is not just one thing I can do alone, it is team work and they all cooperated with me to make the strategic plan worked.
“That was why we had a stable academic calendar, in spite the COVID, we are the first public institution to go online to complete the session, we were able to touch every facility including the hostels and also fixed the roads,” he explained.
On his next plan, Omokungbe said he will go for his accumulated leave because he was unable to go on leave in the last five years, “and of course I will go on sabbatical for another one year and come back to the system because I am not retired yet.”
Talking on what inspired him to write the book, ‘Beginning From The End’ Engr. Omokungbe said it was because his story was unique and will always be part of Yabatech story.
He disclosed that he was out of the polytechnic’s system for five years because he was sacked by the then Yabatech council in 2008 because of his involvement in union matters but was reinstated in 2013 when he won the court case.
“And five years after I was reinstated I became the rector of this institution that was what inspired me to tell my story.
The event was chaired by a retired Chief Judge of Lagos State, Ishola Olorunimbe, Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner for Education and Science and Technology, Ondo State, Mr. Olufemi Agagu, past Yabatech rector, Pa Majekodunmi Ogunbiyi among others.
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