HISTORICAL TRAJECTORIES TO FUTI AND APPRECIATIONS (FPI TEAM 2021 AND FPI TEAM 2024 ON FUTI).

As a fact, all events are history, but not all events are historical. The Transition of the best sought-after Polytechnic, the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro (FPI), to the Federal University of Technology Ilaro (FUTI) is remarkably historical. 

This is on the account of a verifiable fact that it marks the end of an era. Our Jerusalem will no longer be under the management of the Rector, Deputy Rectors, Polytechnic Registrar, Librarian and Bursar again. 

It also signals the beginning of new era by having Acting VC, Registrar, University Librarian, University Bursar and by the Grace of God Acting Deputy VCs to spearhead and lay the golden foundation for the Federal University of Technology Ilaro(FUTI). Allah is with us and guiding Management on the positive paths to follow. 
In the name of the Most High, it is going to be win-win situations for all staff and the community. 

Recall that this idea was midwifed by the Most Distinguished Senator, Aremo and  Okanlomo of Yewa Land.

Consequently, on behalf of the Council, Principal Officers, Management, Staff, students and leaderships of the Students’ Union of the Polytechnic now FUTI, I respectfully and humbly write to doff my cap and especially thank, Senator (Dr.) Aremo Olamilekan Adeola Solomon FCA FCTI FPPI, the former Rector, the trailblazer, Arch Olusegun Olanrewaju Aluko PhD who collaborated wholeheartedly with the Distinguished Senator to start the laudable initiative. 

Fortunately, I was a key member of the Committee, other key members were Dr. Oluseye Babatunde Abiodun(now Rector OGITEC Igbesa), Bar. Ogunseye T. O. Ph.D, Director CICT, Dr. Jumoke Soyemi;  Dr. Olapeju, Dr. Ademola, Mr. Odufuye, and Mr Ibrahim Popoola, among others. Mr. Olusola OJO was the Secretary to the Committee. The Committee was saddled with the responsibility to prepare and present the Memorandum to justify the available Human Resources, Physical Infrastructures, Equipment and vast land resources for the establishment of the Federal University of Technology Ilaro(FUTI). The first memorandum was presented by Dr. Raheem Adisa Oloyo on the April 22, 2021, and bill was passed by the National Assembly but was not assented to by the then President. 

To rekindle almost a lost hope, after landing at MM1 at Ikeja, Lagos State on Thursday July 13, 2024, through Chief Odunaro, the Most Distinguished Senator called me to please return to Abuja to represent the bill  at Room 231, New Senate Building, National Assembly Complex Abuja on Tuesday July 16, 2024 at 12 PM.  It was a tough assignment because we didn’t have the luxury of time to get it done. It was a difficult one, but when the journey gets tough only the tough mind gets going. 
So, I quickly called the available key members of the original Committee, Dr. Jumoke Soyemi, Dr. Olapeju,  Lukman Ojuawo, a new staff  in the Estate and Valuation Department, the Secretary, Mr. Ojo Olusola, who could work within a very short time (Friday to Sunday, July 14 to 16 July, 2024) and Tpl Lukman Lasisi, Deputy Rector Administration, who was called upon to Chair the second Committee. The Alumni President, Mr. Ademola Tade and Students’ Union President, Mr. Femi Macaulay joined us at the presentation in the New Senate Building Abuja to support the team. 
For the incoming generation of academics and non teaching, we must all be ready for any assignment at any time. I was unable to join the second Committee on that tough Friday to Sunday to upgrade the earlier reports which I had availed them. The new Committee excellently and brilliantly improved and upgraded the earlier reports within the shortest possible time. When we arrived  at the Senate Abuja, the Most Distinguished Senator welcomed us all warmly and the at the presentation time, surprisingly, the ‘Aremo’ Oba of Yewa hegemony insisted that I should do the presentation as the Rector even though, I didn’t prepare for it. We had originally planned that Deputy Rector Administration would do the presentation. Please, just like in the motto of Boys Scouts ‘Be Prepared’, be resilient with tenacity at all time especially as academics and non teaching of tertiary Institutions to do any assignment without doubting, fidgeting or fear. Of course, within the short time given to me, I was able to do the helicopter review of the bulky reports to the admiration of the Senator, Senators at the Complex, Chairman of the Committee, all the Committee members, press men and women and other critical stakeholders at the Public Hearings of the Bill to transform FPI to FUTI. 

The Chairman and members of the Committee, the job you did using your extra time on that Friday to Sunday before flying to Abuja later in the evening of Sunday-Monday of 15-16 and the presentation on 17 Tuesday July, 2024 was the seed you sowed. Eureka! The seed germinated into FUTI that everyone is celebrating today. 

Few people usually dig the well a community uses. These few people, in our own context,are our father with the mantra, Renewed Hope Agenda, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR who assented to the bill as passed concurrently by the National Assembly, the Most Distinguished Senator (our Messiah who passionately and energetically pushed for the bill), The Paramount Ruler of Yewa Land, HRM Oba Dr.  ESV Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle MFR Asade  Aguloye IV,  the Chairman, Ogun State Oba in Council, the Senate, HOR members(our own Hon Ishiaq and Hon GNI) the former Rectors, Arc Aluko PhD, Dr.Oloyo of blessed memory, all members of the first Committee, the Chairman of the second Committee, Tpl Lukman Lasisi (Deputy Rector Administration and the Polytechnic Community, we are not ungrateful. 
The Hon Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, Minister of State of Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, the Ministerial team that visited us before Christmas of December 2024, ably led by Dr. Usman Ejeh, The Director and Deputy Director of University Education, Federal Ministry of Education, and the National Board for Technical Education(NBTE) Representative and our highly revered ES NBTE, we owe you nonpareil gratitudes. 

The Council, all Principal Officers, Deans, Directors, HODs, Heads of Units, all staff, the unions at all levels including my best-behaved students, NHIS staff, Porters, Portress, outsourced staff (Security, Cleaners and Gardeners) and everyone, kudos to you all for supporting this noble objective. 

I have carefully flow charted and Gantt charted the paths to follow. This will be diligently and religiously implemented to ensure that FUTI starts on time. We shall collaborate and work with the unions and existing organs of the Institutions to get it right in a peaceful atmosphere. 

Thank you, the Messiah of Ogun West. I saw it clearly in the other room. This is not taken for granted. Thank you, Sir, the Most Distinguished Senator, the AREMO of Yewa Land, Okanlomo of Ogun West.  The Hon Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, thank you Sir for the support for me, Registrar, Polytechnic Librarian and Bursar to be appointed as Acting: VC, Registrar, Librarian, and Bursar of the Federal University of Technology Ilaro (FUTI) as well as retaining the Council. 
Our Distinguished Senator, Allah using  people will stand up for you to achieve your desired dream of becoming the next Governor of the State in 2027, AMEEN. 
The HME, whatever is your heartfelt desire will also come to past in 2027, AMEEN. 
Finally, His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, Sir, you shall be victorious in the next Presidential elections, AMEEN. 

Ladies and gentlemen, the Management under my leadership together with the Council and critical stakeholders shall carefully articulate plans to hit the ground running to lay a solid foundation for a Technical University that will expand culture of sound practical knowledge combined with theories to innovate products that will support the development of the country aligning with the Renewed Hope agenda philosophy to drive novel local technology. This will serve as a basis for Industrialization of the country by the Grace of God, Ameen. 
God bless the FUTI!
God bless Ogun State!!
God bless Nigeria!!!
Dr. Akinde M. A. FCA FCTI ACS