Communique On 3-day Retreat

Communique On 3-day Retreat

• By Admin
• COLLEGE
• Sep 9, 2024 03:40 pm

COMMUNIQUE ON 3-DAY RETREAT WITH THE THEME: CONSOLIDATING THE PAST AND SHAPING THE FUTURE

Organized for All Members of the Governing Council and Principal Officers of Yaba College of Technology at Parkview Astoria Hotel, Ikoyi Lagos, from Friday, September 6 to Sunday, September 8, 2024.

- Objectives of the Retreat: 

  The retreat aimed to strengthen team building and leadership among Council members, with a view to sharing experiences and insights to guide future decisions and initiatives. The ultimate goal was to establish the strategic direction for Yaba College of Technology from 2024 to 2028.

- Accomplishments: 

  The retreat called participants to harness all strategic resources, both intrinsic and extrinsic, to guide the government through its adopted roadmap to transform the Polytechnic sector in the academic arena. Through paper presentations and group discussions, the retreat's objectives, as highlighted by the Governing Council Chairman, Professor Funsho Isolaowa Afolabi, were achieved with the help of experienced facilitators from government and public service. Notable personalities included Prince Lateef O. Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation, who spoke on "Best Practices in Governance of the Polytechnic System," and Professor Rahamon Bello, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, and currently Pro-Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education,  who spoke on "Team Building as the Basis for Success." Paper titled “The 2024 to 2028 Strategic Plan and Brief on the ERECT Agenda“ was also presented by Dr. Engr. Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul, Rector, Yaba College of Technology.

The retreat also featured the first indigenous Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Mr. George Majekodunmi Okufi, who shared his thoughts in the paper titled “Experience in Leadership: Special Case of YABATECH Peculiar Experience with Rectors and all the Councils from 1975 – 1985”. The Ag. Registrar/Secretary to Council, Dr. Emmanuel Akinwale, was the rapporteur.

- Most Cogent Objectives from the Papers:

Best practices in governance, blended with compliance with due process, form the bedrock of diversity and inclusiveness, which are key thematic areas of the present administration's Renewed Hope Agenda.

Team building was emphasized as the basis for success, while Council and Management relations should be structured to foster cohesion and inclusiveness, avoiding confrontation, to realize the institution's vision and mission.- Synergy

Council expanded its scope through formation of Committees for synergy and bonding to strengthen its supervisory role in governance and management of the institution.

- Group Discussions:

 Three groups of participants discussed a Staff Development Strategy that was adopted to transition from in-house to off-site training, with an emphasis on a Performance Management System of appraisal. This approach focuses on bridging gaps in service delivery through a train-the-trainer approach while improving facilities for capacity building. The goal is to establish a performance framework with set criteria, including job competence, impactful research, and specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives.

Further discussions centered on skills’ exchanges as a valuable basis for team building and a positive criterion for the institution's progress, while avoiding cliques within the Council. Better strategies for funding and institutional development were also explored.

Participants concluded with discussions on current challenges in the institution, including issues raised by stakeholders comprising the government, management, students, alumni, and commercial entities. One significant issue noted was the National Assembly's efforts to remove the dichotomy between Higher National Diploma and Bachelor’s degree holders. The retreat also noted the recent release by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) insisting on presentation of evidence of one (1) year industrial training, by all intending Higher National Diploma Corp members while similar request was not demanded from Bachelor’s degree holders.

The government was implored to stop inhibiting the admission selection process through policies that reduce the number of students admitted in part-time mode. It was emphasized that part-time admission not only aids Internally Generated Revenue for institutions but also ensure access to tertiary education.

- Highlights of the Retreat: 

  The retreat emphasized the institutional branding of Yaba College of Technology. Noting first the nomenclature "Yaba the Great". Council went further to adopt the slogan "YABATECH TEAM FOREVER".

The retreat also noted that educational institutions in developed countries operate as Colleges and Schools with a mandate to run degree programs. The retreat called on the government to urgently establish a Polytechnic Commission that, among other mandates, will retain the name Yaba College of Technology. This commission should empower the institution to run dual-mode degrees, emphasizing both theoretical knowledge and practical, entrepreneurial skills. The retreat highlighted the institution's capabilities, noting its more than adequate teaching staff with research degrees and academic contributions that will support this new mandate to operate as a College with degrees awarded in similar vein with Colleges and Institutes in the western world running degree programmes.

SIGNED:

Dr. Engr. I. A. Abdul FNIEE Rector

 Mrs. H.A.G. Badejo LOC

Dr. E.J.A. Akinwale, FNIM Ag. Registrar/ Secretary to Council

 

 

Tweet this news