Lagos – The Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, on Thursday, said it would launch a N5 billion endowment fund as part of activities to mark its 24th convocation.
The Rector of the polytechnic, Mr Samuel Sogunro, made this known at a pre-convocation press briefing in Lagos.
He said that the ceremony would also include the conferment of fellowship award on three distinguished Nigerians.
Sogunro added that the personalities to be presented the fellowship at the convocation slated for April 7 include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Others are Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi and Sir Ademola Aladekomo, a former Group Managing Director, Chams Plc.
He said that the endowment fund was to facilitate the actualisation of the polytechnic’s vision of excellence to ensure that it became a renowned global tertiary institution.
The rector said that the fund would be committed to infrastructure and research projects.
According to him, the projects include the administrative building, medical centre, fire sub-station, students Hall of Residence and Resort Centre.
Others are the 250 megawatts biomass power project, Intelligent Traffic Light Control System and Domestic Bio-Gas Digester (Renewable Energy).
He said that the polytechnic would graduate 8, 519 full and part-time students, noting that 263 students made distinction, 1,317 students made
Upper Credit, while 5,629 students had Lower Credit and 1,310 had pass.
He added that “I am equally happy to state that all the graduating students will go home with their certificates immediately after the convocation.”
He said that the polytechnic currently had 25,250 students, running 66 accredited programmes at the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) across seven schools.
The figure was against 287 students as at 1978 when the school commenced operation.
The rector said that the polytechnic was partnering with organisations and individuals committed to excellence in education, research and service.
“We currently collaborate and enjoy support from African Network of Scientific and Technological Institution (ANSTI), and National Automotive Council (NAC).
“NAC is about to complete the construction of an Automotive Emission Testing Centre worth over N1 billion at Ikorodu campus.
“We are also collaborating with Korean Government, National Planning Commission (NPC), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), National Information Technology Development (NITDA), and Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF).
“Also, we partner Commonwealth Association of Polytechnics in Africa (CAPA) on staff training, research and development.” (NAN)