AN ADDRESS BY ALHAJI YINKA IBRAHIM, AG. RECTOR OF KWARA STATE POLYTECHNIC, ILORIN TO THE KWARA POLY COMMUNITY

It is indeed pleasing to make this address to you all.

About three weeks ago, I was saddled with the responsibility of switching from the position of Deputy Rector (Academic) to that of Deputy Rector (Administration) and in that capacity,

to be the Acting Rector of the Polytechnic. I accepted this added responsibility with all sense of humility. The tasks ahead are very daunting but I am not overwhelmed by them. Rather, I have decided to give my all to it in order to make a mark on the sands of time.

A promise quality leadership

Over the years, I have been involved in the decision-making process at other levels.  I have had to learn the ropes.  I am still learning.  I will bring proactively to bear in my leadership style.  I shall communicate far afield in the course of this assignment.  I plead with and sundry to interact with me as well.

The founding fathers of Kwara State Polytechnic had dreams.  Dreams of well-nourished diplomats who can solve local problems and compete globally.  Dreams of having an institution that is rated if not the best, but among the best.

These are grand and glorious dreams. We have deviated form those dreams.  We are, however, back on track, refocused, restructured, renewed, reinvigorated so as to fast-track ourselves to realize those lofty, attainable dreams.

It has been said that if you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there.  Our institution is clear about where it is headed and why; we have a clear direction as well as the understanding of where we are going.  To achieve this, everyone must be an active participant in the process.

Our building blocks are the stakeholders - the state government, the governing council, the management, the academic board, staff, students, the federal government (through its agencies), the alumni of the institution, the industries and other interest groups.

Our desire is to interact meaning fully and widely with all these our stakeholders, sell ourselves to them not only to dream our dreams but to make them realities because they are realisable.  Timeliness is all about these dreams.  On our part, the paths that we shall take shall be all-inclusive.  Everyone counts because we shall count a on everyone to attain our lofty goals.

The chairman of the governing council has assured us of the necessary financial resources to actualize our dreams.  We have confidence in him; we have the conviction that his commitment towards a result-oriented institution is second nature to him.

On its own part, the management is committed to collaborate with the governing council at all times so that together we can all attain the same objectives rather than work at cross purposes.

The academic board is a dynamic institution which strives for academic excellence.  Members were painstakingly picked and appointed.  They have equally resolved to be part of the reformation train.  The desire of the board is to constantly renew itself so that it is a platform for positive engagements.

I can only assure the board that as the chairman, my belief is that leadership is a team sport, I will involve everyone of them since our separate strengths, intellectual abilities and condour can be harnessed into a working unit.

I shall encourage both communication and interaction between the governing council and the academic board since there is a symbiotic relationship between the two bodies.

I promise to be a morale booster of sort.  I have no alternative than to compliment and celebrate both individual and team efforts.  I know what I don't know.  I understand the limitations of my wisdom and experience.  However, I am willing to fill in these gaps by asking for directions, as it were, from others.  It is my desire to develop a network of associates who dream our dreams and who have the ambition to realise them.

The welfare of our staff-both academic and non-academic is an article of faith with me.  I shall endeavour to ensure that staff who are due for promotion get it as at when they are due for it. We plan to motivate our staff so that they will be easily mobilized for the greater good of our institution.

An institution exists in order to make communication possible.  We know downward communication is a fait accompli; we shall also encourage and enhance upward communication.

The administration is geared towards commending noble deeds of individuals and even compensate them fro exemplary achievement.  It shall equally condemn in the strongest term any wilful acts of misconduct from any staff. They will be sanctioned in accordance with relevant provisions of the Polytechnic law and regulations.

Hierarchy exists everywhere in order to prevent anarchy anywhere. Much as we shall encourage an open door policy, staff and students should familiarise themselves with the established communication chain and endeavour not to short circuit it.  This strict adherence to official links will bring about effective result, order, discipline and above all efficiency of the institution itself.

It is my intention to partner with the student union government in order to consolidate mutual respect and optimise institutional interaction and communication. On our part, we shall cultivate and cherish acts which bring glory to the Polytechnic and will frown at those which bring the institution into disrepute.

The leadership of the students must have the ambition to give positive direction to the students and add value to the commitment of the student body.
We shall listen to them and act in such a way that the campus is consistently in a state of calm and peace.

On behalf of the academic board, I pledge an uninterruptible academic calendar. My predecessors in office have played their parts well.  Yesterday's better shall be today's best.  The atmosphere we are enjoying now indicates that much can be achieved by a synergy between and among the staff and students. The staff have pledged their commitments, students should also conduct themselves in such a way that they avoid acts which can lead to a breakdown of law and order.  They must sensitise themselves on the need for understanding and appreciation of the combined efforts of the governing council, management, academic board and the entire staff to transform Kwara Polytechnic to the institution they will be proud of in terms of its knack for excellence.

I empathize with staff and students on the problem they face daily to get in and out of the campus.  We are thinking positively on how to solve this problem.  One can observe the steps we are taking:  the promise to tackle the problem head-on resolvedly.

I wish to place it on record that this administration is doing everything possible to empower its diplomats by the recent establishment of a Centre for Entrepreneurship.  In due course, we shall unfold the potentials of this centre and the benefits staff, students and graduates of Kwara poly can derive form it. Unemployment is a general problem in Nigeria.  We are collaborating with some agencies and other employers of labour for placements of our grandaunts.   There are signs that we shall reap bountifully from this collaboration.

We can all succeed if we constantly readjust the way we think and behave. I am in office to help those whose performance is poor to be optimal and to assist those who are doing better to have the best performance. Let us all be focused around a goal: making Kwara Polytechnic an institution of excellence.