By Babatunde Tiamiyu
Oyo state government has expressed its readiness to partner SEISMIC Consulting Company to resuscitate the five Technical Colleges in the state from moribund state.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Salihu Adelabu stated this during on-the-spot- assessment to the Technical Colleges in Ogbomosho and Ibadan, noting that the development was to ensure that youths have access to desired skill acquisition.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Director, Applied Science and Technical, Mr.Adekunle Idowu, explained that resuscitation of the moribund vocational and technical colleges became imperative to reduce unemployment rate among the youths in the state and out of school Children.
He maintained that the purpose of the visit was to know the state of infrastructure in the colleges, assured that the Governor Seyi Makinde led administration would put a face lift to the technical colleges in the state.
He said:” The state government realized the importance of Technical Education in the development of society, specifically in transforming the socio-economic status of the society.”
“The government of Oyo State has deemed it fit to resuscitate all the technical colleges in the state.
“The present administration is ready to restructure the technical colleges in the state by partnering with the reputable company.
Earlier, the representative of the SEISMIC Consulting Group Mr.Grant Onedo, said that his company partnered the Federal and State governments in the development of Technical and Vocational Education.
He explained that the company is ready to partner the Oyo state government in the training of teachers, equipping and remodelling of the colleges.
He stressed further that the company has partnered with Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti states on Vocational and Technical Education.
He appreciated Governor ‘Seyi Makinde and Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Salihu Adelabu for their cooperation, adding that the company will not disappoint them.
“We do employ four approaches, which are remodel, renovate, equip where it is necessary and training of the staff.
“The way we do it is to submit an expression of interest, and we have done that and the governor is interested.
“He has directed us to come and see things in these technical colleges to know the situation of things in all these colleges.
“After all the assessments, we shall know where we can partner with the government.
“We have done it in some states, such as Lagos,Ogun, Ekiti states, and also to assist the government in getting donors to assist in uplifting the colleges.
“Also, we can assist the government in training and retraining the teachers in new ways of doing things.
According to him, First and foremost, what my company does is to partner with the Federal and State Governments in Technical and Vocational.
