By Mahmood Olayinka Alaya
The Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, is set to graduate 5,000 students in its inaugural convocation ceremony, scheduled for Saturday.
The Provost of the institution, Dr. Aliyu Alabi, disclosed this during a press conference held at the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ilorin.
The ceremony will mark a historic moment for the institution, which will be hosting a combined convocation for graduates from the years 2019 to 2024.
Dr. Alabi noted that the institution, established in 1976, has a unique history of departmental graduations, with different professional bodies traditionally responsible for overseeing the process.
He said in a move towards centralization and greater recognition, the state government has initiated significant reforms aimed at rebranding and restructuring the college.
“This reform touches not only on the physical development of the institution’s infrastructure but also extends to staff development, including training and retraining programs, as well as enhancing student discipline,” Dr. Alabi stated.
Highlighting some of the institution’s recent achievements, Dr. Alabi mentioned the construction of a 450-meter asphalt road from the college gate to the hostel, significantly improving accessibility.
He also pointed to the establishment of a 250-seat capacity ICT center through a public-private partnership, which will greatly enhance the digital learning environment.
Additional developments, according to him, include the construction and equipping of a Dental Health Technology Laboratory and the expansion of the Community Health Department’s demonstration room.
These improvements, he noted, are part of a continuous effort to provide a conducive learning environment for all students.
The Provost revealed that the college has successfully mobilized 1,600 graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), a milestone he described as unprecedented in the institution’s history.
Dr. Alabi also called on the Federal Government to include the institution in the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) scheme, citing ongoing financial challenges.
He emphasized that the institution has produced numerous healthcare professionals who are making significant contributions to the nation’s development.
The upcoming convocation is not only a celebration of academic achievement but also a testament to the institution’s growing influence in the field of health education in Nigeria.
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