MAPOLY TO MAUSTECH: WHICH WAY TO GO? - MESSAGE FROM AN ALUMNI

After so many hullabaloos on MAPOLY / MAUSTECH Saga, it is now very clear that; politics has found its way in beyond redemption.

I was on Campus yesterday, and I saw a memo signed and pasted on all notice boards by the School Registrar on the decision that, the sales of HND forms for Full-time and Part-time students is on. Even, a deadline was given for the sales, while the muted Second Semester Examinations for the Returning Students will commence anytime from next week. Also, the government has insisted that the sales of forms for ND students / Jambites should be put on hold as no admission will be given to them. Rather, the barren land in Ipokia has been concluded by the Governor to be the new Poly site for all ‘Freshers’ seeking ND admission into MAPOLY / Ogun State Polytechnic. Oppositely, the ASUP still refused to agree with this decision, as it was believed to be the new Rector / Governments personal opinion against theirs.

It may surprise some people to know that, as big as MAPOLY Alumni Association is, in terms of Members and names, so equal to their level of weakness in terms of decision and action plan.

So far so good, none of the two wings, that is; The National Executive Council (NEC) and Committee of Distinguished Alumni (CODA) which constitutes the Alumni Association of MAPOLY has not done anything meaningful to rescue the situation that has almost jeopardized the efforts of the good staff and students of Great MAPOLY, just as the school keeps facing depression in the hands of the state government, due to unpalatable policies, aimed at scoring mere political points. As observed, the NEC and CODA have not displayed any real or genuine interest in the current issues because of some unworthy reasons gathered within.

Though, while the NEC wing turned a total 'deaf-ear', some members of CODA had only made an effort to have a successful horrifying meeting with the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs Modupe Mojuta without any 'ear-friendly' outcome, following my previous broadcast on social media on the same saga, titled "TO THE GREAT ALUMNI OF MAPOLY".

Fine, the CODA team went into a meeting with the state Commissioner for Education but, with just 9-selected members by the Secretary of the CODA. The selection of the 9-members to me was more of 'we-we' than individuals capability. At the end of the day, the meeting had rather favoured the government more. Neither the staff nor students were well briefed with adequate information on the outcome of the meeting after they came back from the Commissioner's office. No communiqué, no press statement, no memo and no single official feedback. Probably, the fear of saying what the outcome of the meeting is has gripped those that represented, as I'm sure, that if such meeting had favoured the school, staff or students, the noise would have been everywhere by the representatives of the CODA. This made me ask a question thus:

Is MAPOLY Alumni Association now a newly evoke educational sector in the state?

Secretly, a source within the CODA team that went to have meeting with the commissioner revealed that, after the commissioner had initially belittled them without any humble welcome to her office, the commissioner in her later conversation tastefully admitted that their government had wrongly construed the bill that sustained the upgrade of MAPOLY into a University of Technology. She said; “Government only wants a ‘New University’ to kick start in MAPOLY using existing structure inside MAPOLY Campus, while MAPOLY will be moved to IPOKIA site with a name change to Ogun State Polytechnic”. Although, this is not in any way in line with the content of the bill but, totally against the bills substance approved by the Ogun State House of Assembly (OGHA). Nevertheless, due to the perceived arrogance displayed by the members of ASUP and others, the government also decided to use its power.

Deceitfully, approximately a week after the shadow meeting between some members of CODA and the state commissioner for Education, a cajoling press statement was released by the commissioner, which only addressed the Alumni personally on future benefits that will be enjoyed by them after which the government might have successfully transmitted MAPOLY to MAUSTECH. The press statement did not in any way address those aching issues affecting the school activities.

For more clarifications, below are some extracts from the press statements by the commissioner for education, following the meeting with some members of CODA:

..the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota who made this known while playing host to the Executive members of the Association at her office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said the change in status of the polytechnic to a University of Science and Technology would not have any effect on the activities of the Alumni Association..".

# (Could this be what the Alumni fell for?)

"..your Association needs not bother on the transition of MAPOLY to MAUSTECH. What has happened was borne out of the belief that there should be balance in the development of the State. The Governor believes that every senatorial district of the State should have a feel of the mission to rebuild agenda that is currently pervading the State. Hence, the location of the State Polytechnic at Ipokia, the Commissioner said..".

# (Definitely, the transition is not genuine. Rather, it was borne out of political purpose. But, must everything be done for political purpose?)

"..the National President of the Association, Mr. Akeem Ayoade, said that their visit was to obtain first-hand information on the status of the new Polytechnic and to ascertain if its members could further their education in the new University..".

# (How is this related to the ongoing issues please? How could a whole National President of MAPOLY Alumni Association say that; their visit was to obtain first-hand information on the status of the new Polytechnic and to ascertain if its members could further their education in the new University?) Arrant nonsense!

As for me, I am not impressed with the performance of the selected members of CODA wing of MAPOLY Alumni Association. Notwithstanding, and without any sense of discrimination between HND and Bsc, no sane person will go against the upgrade of MAPOLY into a University but, the process must not jeopardize the efforts of those apostles that had sacrificed a lot in ensuring that the school got to the height it has attained, ranging from government sponsoring institution into self sustaining academic institution, now to a level of attracting conversion into a University. It is not damn easy!

Academically, this government needs to be educated that; upgrading an academic institution or any higher institution of learning like MAPOLY into a University of Technology is different from conversion, while conversion is different from starting a new institution afresh. Unfortunately, the Alumni body that was supposed to join forces and educate the government and even helps the government out to get things right is still turning a deaf-ear and acting novice on this sensitive matter.

It marvels me to see that what is playing out in my Alma-mata is totally different from what is being agitated and approved.

An upgrade was agitated and approved but, starting a new institution with the usage of an existing structure, without patently addressing what will become the faith of; - MAPOLY being a self sustaining Higher Institution of Learning, - the admission of over 25,0000 MAPAITES, - all the efforts and sacrifices of the Academic and non Academic Staff, - Traders, - Entrepreneurs, (Taxi Drivers, Food sellers, Shop Owners, Landlords, etc).

It is very annoying that after the failed attempt by some members of CODA, up till date, the NEC, which is the upper chamber of the Alumni body is still acting apprentice on the ongoing retarded policies being implemented by the state government over what was initially perceived to be a smooth upgrade of MAPOLY into a University of Science and Technology.

It is very sad that the leadership of NEC only believes that the disagreement between the ASUP and state government is not enough to demand for the full interference of the Association because of the perception that ASUP and Government are both fighting for personal interest.

The NEC is of the opinion that; the government is doing all in order to score political points and accolades, while ASUP is after securing their jobs / employments.

Furthermore, I also observed that the NEC is rather feeling proud or too big to prevail on the ongoing saga in the way it ought to be handled, probably to avoid losing their base in the hands of the state government. My reasons are based on the expression and information gathered by a key officer within the Alumni Association when I asked him on why the NEC has refused to interfere in the matter since, and why the CODA wing has rather gone to ask such nauseating questions among other important things that demand explanation.

During my personal engagement with the officer, he revealed that:

- Ever since the issue has started, they did not receive any official briefing from neither the school management nor the ASUP about what is going on, and where the association can come in’.

- ‘The news / information were not tabled officially before the NEC or CODA. Not even the government made it known to the association through any official document or letter that the school will either be converted or upgraded into a University’.

- ‘That their avoidance was based on hearsays, which was not enough to act on’.

To me, the NEC wing of the Alumni Association is myopic to have considered the saga not worthy to act on, despite the fact that, the information is everywhere.

# For how long will NEC wing of MAPOLY Alumni Association continue to keep mute and act novice on issues that have disrupted the academic activities inside the Campus?

# For how long will NEC wing of MAPOLY Alumni Association continue to keep mute and act novice on issues that has led to the wildcat strike on the conduction of second semester examinations for the returning students?

# For how long will NEC wing of MAPOLY Alumni Association continue to keep mute and act novice on issues that have hindered the sales of entry forms for JAMBITES, especially those who have chosen MAPOLY as their choice of institution while filling their forms?

# For how long will NEC wing of MAPOLY Alumni Association continue to keep mute and act novice on issues that led to staff protest, disorderliness and denial of Prof Oke Bukola, Professor Isaq Salako among others members of the Transition Committee during the penultimate week.

# For how long will NEC wing of MAPOLY Alumni Association continue to keep mute and act novice on issues that led to Students protest to Governor's Office under the leadership of NANS - Ogun JCC Chairman. In which, the School Rector, Prof Itiola was asked to go on a terminal leave with immediate effect on the same day.

# For how long will NEC wing of MAPOLY Alumni Association continue to keep mute and act novice on issues that are everywhere in the public, even in the media.

Let us not forget that UNILAG Alumni association was not officially informed before they rejected the wish of Federal Government under the leadership of former President GEJ to change the name of their institution from University of Lagos (UNILAG) to Moshood Abiola Univerity, Lagos (MAULAG).

Also, Students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) and their Alumni Association were not written officially nor informed before putting forces together to reject Governor Amosun's attempt to scrap their Great Institution for political reasons.

Why is MAPOLY'S case different?

Though, I will continue to be proud of myself being an Alumnus of Great MAPOLY but, I detest any unduly process capable of jeopardizing the efforts of the good Staff and Students of my Great Alma-mata.

Dear Intellectual Alumni and other pragmatic Nigerians that have benefited from MAPOLY in one way or the other, if truly we are proud of those benefits, then, we need to allow others to benefit as well, by not allowing any government, organization or association to play politics with our Alma-mata.

Conclusively, I want to advise all admission seekers into MAPOLY to look elsewhere for now, exception on those that still feel better staying at home. I will never advise anyone to keep hope that something will come from MAPOLY because, no clear hope is in fold as far as MAPOLY / MAUSTECH is concerned. That of Ogun State Poly - Ipokia site is not even part of it at all as no work is yet to commence on the site till now, except for shadow promises. It is just a pity situation and quite unfortunate.

Till then;

I stand with the Good Students of MAPOLY,
I stand with JAMBITES and All Admission Seekers into MAPOLY,
I stand with the Good Academic and Non Academic Staff of MAPOLY,
I stand with the Good Members ASUP,
I stand with the Good and Intellectual Alumni of MAPOLY,
I stand with Proper and Genuine Transition of MAPOLY devoid of Politics,
I stand with the Greatest Nigerian Students.

Credit: Comrade Westo Adekunle Adejumo