Ondo State governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa will on Saturday preside over the first convocation at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, in 12 years.
The rector of the institution, Olorunwa Adegun, announced this on Monday during a news conference ahead of the combined 12th to 23rd convocation.
Mr Adegun said the last convocation of the polytechnic was held in 2013.
He explained that several challenges prevented subsequent ceremonies from taking place, including financial difficulties and industrial disputes.
According to him, when he assumed office in 2023, workers of the institution were owed 14 months’ salaries and the payment system had become irregular and partial.
He added that the school’s staff schools had been shut and its business arm, OSPO Ventures, was inactive.
“The institution’s Staff Schools was shut; workers there were sacked and pupils and students were dismissed.
“The institution’s business outfit, OSPO Ventures, was practically lifelesss and the institution was plagued with much litigation,” he said.
Adegun said the situation began to improve following governor Aiyedatiwa’s intervention, which included the release of funds through the Special Intervention Fund and an increase in the school’s monthly subvention.
He also said efforts were being made to boost the institution’s internally generated revenue to prevent a recurrence of the financial crisis.
The rector noted that the polytechnic has now stabilised academically and administratively, allowing it to conduct the combined convocation for graduates of several years.
The event will hold at the institution’s campus in Owo, Ondo State.
