OSUN State Government yesterday immortalised the
former Attorney General and Minister for Justice of
the Federation, Chief Bola Ige by opening the
Mechatronic Institute at the Osun State College of
Technology, Esa-Oke his hometown.
State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, speaking at
the event, alleged that the suspected killers of the ex-
minister are the same set of people who have tried
effortlessly to destabilise the state.
Aregbesola noted that the Bola Ige Mechatronic
Institute is a dream come true with the equipment
alone costing N875 million and a befitting legacy in
honour of the slain Chief James Ajibola Bola Ige, who
he described as leader, national icon and a citizen of
the world.
Aregbesola stressed that the newly commissioned
institute will be training on-the-street mechanics from
garages and candidates from automobile companies.
He said that the institute would also admit holders of
Ordinary National Diploma and Technical College
graduates for skills acquisition and Industrial
Trainings.
The governor added that the institute plans to offer
through National Board for Technical Education
(NBTE) and National Universities Commission (NUC)
approval for upgrade of the polytechnic syllabus, a
degree course on Auto Mechatronics, using the
facilities in future.
The governor revealed that the institute is the first of
its kind in Africa, adding that the state’s vision for the
institute began with the need to empower youths and
equip artisans with the requisite skills to be relevant in
an increasingly digital world.
Aregbesola maintained that though Ige was brutally
murdered by those who thought they could silence
him, his spirit has been restless and has been
tormenting his killers who have been sinking deeper
in what he called “the quagmire of infamy.”
According to him, “the spirit of Chief Bola Ige will not
sleep until the killers are brought to book. These are
the same individuals that have fruitlessly attempted to
plunge the state into chaos and bring about a change
of government through conspiracy and subterfuge in
the recent past. “While the killers drink from the cup
of shame, we shall continue to honour the memory of
Ige as he is ensconced in the pantheons of departed
Yoruba leaders.
Speaking earlier, Former Special Adviser to Governor
Aregbesola on Federal Matters, Ms. Idiat Babalola had
stressed that the diagnostic centre is designed to create
employment for the youths and generate revenue
internally for the state.
Babalola stated that Osun received the biggest support
on the project from the National Automotive Design
and Development Council, under the auspices of the
Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry, which got the
Bank of Industry to finance it through First Bank of
Nigeria.
She stated, “It is interesting to note that of all the states
that competed for this project, Osun got the nod,
partly due to the due diligence done on our proposal
that confirmed our good credit rating,” the former
Special Adviser told the gathering.
The guest lecturer, Mr. Ola Abraham in his lecture
said the establishment of the centre was a re-
enactment of wonders and miracles of the late Chief
Obafemi Awolowo era.
The don said the mechatronic is one of its kinds on the
black continent, saying it will in not too distant future
become a force to be reckoned with.
He noted that a graduate of the institute would be
equivalent to graduates of eight different disciplines
because Mechatronic is multi-disciplinary study. “The
establishment of this diagnostic institute indeed is a re-
enactment of the old days of wonders and miracles
that marked the regime of the late Chief Obafemi
Awolowo administration of one of the best in Nigeria.
“This centre, by the time it starts running the
programmes will be a force to reckon with in the
world,” Abraham said.
In his testimonial speech on behalf of the 31
beneficiaries, who were trained in Germany for the
purpose of the institute, Yinka Oladipo, described the
institute as a ‘mega hope.’
He said that just as the government of Aregbesola
gave hope to youths through OYES scheme and the
aged through Agba Osun Scheme, the mechatronic
programme also gives hope to the youth in the area of
modern technological acquisition as well as
employment. “The diagnostic institute equipped us to
be professionals after the acquisition of necessary
skills so as for us to be able to function efficiently in
our chosen fields. Through this, you gave us hope by
giving us employment; you have kept our hopes
alive,” Oladipo said.
Director General of the National Automotive Design
and Development Council, Engineer Aminu Jalaal
while speaking said the establishment of the institute is
a testimony to the development initiative of Governor
Aregbesola.
Describing the institute as landmark one, Engineer
Jallal said the Bola Ige Mechatronic Institute would be
a reference centre for other institutions across Africa.
He said the institute has put Osun at a vantage position
to lead in the mechatronic activities henceforth.
The Bank of Industry whose Managing Director Mr.
Rasheed Olaoluwa was represented at the event
commended Aregbesola for the prompt response of
his government over programmes that are capable of
providing jobs in the state.
He said while the Bank of Industry has to plead with
many states over some of the schemes that are capable
of changing the lives of the ordinary people, Governor
Aregbesola was prompt and swift in taking advantage of the opontunities offered by the Bol
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