Abiodun Rewards MAPOLY’s Top Graduates with ₦2.5m Each, Unveils ₦2bn Intervention Projects
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has announced a cash award of ₦2.5 million each to the best graduating students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) for the academic sessions from 2015/2016 to 2023/2024. The announcement was made during the polytechnic’s 15th combined convocation ceremony held in Abeokuta on Tuesday.
Addressing a crowd of dignitaries, staff, students, and traditional rulers, Governor Abiodun also revealed a ₦2 billion intervention fund targeted at transforming the institution’s infrastructure and restoring its former academic excellence. The interventions will include a 500-seater ultra-modern lecture theatre, a new library, a dedicated building for the Accountancy Department, and critical road constructions within the campus.
The governor lamented the damage done to the institution following the failed relocation by his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, which caused the student population to crash from 30,000 to about 5,000. However, through active intervention and regulatory support, MAPOLY now boasts around 13,000 students, a sign of gradual recovery and renewed growth.
Abiodun said his administration is committed to ensuring that MAPOLY becomes a true centre of excellence, promising that no stone would be left unturned in rebuilding the school’s glory.
In his motivational message to the 51,000 graduating students, the governor encouraged them to be “daring, innovative, and resilient,” urging them to use the knowledge gained at MAPOLY to positively impact their communities and the world at large.
Rector Dr. Babatunde Jolaoso, in his convocation address, commended the governor’s support and outlined recent achievements under his six-month leadership. These include securing full transmission rights for 99.7FM MAPOLY Campus Radio, clearing a ₦76 million bank debt, and promoting a peaceful academic environment. He appealed for more government funding to complete abandoned hostel projects, accreditation exercises, and campus infrastructure.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chair of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), delivered the convocation lecture titled “Diaspora Perspectives and the Influence of STEM in a Globalised World”. She urged youths seeking to migrate to do so legally, warning of the tragic consequences of irregular migration, including modern-day slavery and forced prostitution.
Dr. Dabiri-Erewa further encouraged the institution to partner with Nigerians in the diaspora to explore opportunities for academic and technological growth, noting that such collaborations could greatly boost MAPOLY’s global relevance.
In closing, Professor Kamaldeen Balogun, Chairman of MAPOLY’s Governing Council, applauded Governor Abiodun’s commitment to education and thanked him for the impactful reforms that are now redefining excellence at the polytechnic.
