Alaba-Olusola Oke
Ondo(Ondo State) – Dr Samuel Akintunde, the Provost, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo in Ondo State, on Thursday, stressed the need for lecturers to always operate open door policy with their students.
Akintunde, who stated this in Ondo while receiving an award winner, Mr Victor Olaoye, said that such open door policy would transform students desiring to acquire skills into employers of labour after their graduation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olaoye, who is a final year student of the School of Vocational Education, emerged the overall winner of an art competition.
NAN also reports that Olaoye went home with N500,000 and a plaque, having defeated over 500 artists at the competition, which was held in November 2019 in Enugu, Enugu State.
The competition, which was the 13th edition, organised for those between the ages of five and 35 years in the country since its debut in 2007, and tagged “Life in My City Art Festival” (LIMCAF), was the vision of Chief Robert Oji.
While expressing happiness at Olaoye’s performance, the provost enjoined staffers and students of the department not to relent in their efforts at promoting excellence.
NAN reports that Olaoye will join five other artists to participate in an international art competition, slated for Dakar Art Biennale, Senegal this year.
“One thing you have proved today is that we are not second class to any institution.
“You have also proved that the best can come from a college of education.
“I thank the lecturers in the department. You are doing your best to elevate the department to a higher height and to see that it continues to be vibrant.
“I am proud of you and I have belief in that department because of the calibre of people there.
“What we are going to do is to see that the college deserves the award. We shall make noise about the achievement and we shall also celebrate you,” he stated.
Responding, Dr Adewale Ajayi, the dean of the school, expressed gratitude to the college management for providing necessary support and encouragement to the students, before, during and after the competition.
Similarly, the lecturers in the school appreciated the provost for his support, promising to continue on the path of excellence.
NAN reports that the LIMCAF competition is a yearly celebration of creativity, featuring young talents in the Nigerian art landscape.
(NAN)