THE OGUN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
Recently at the premises of Government Science and Technical College (GSTC), Abeokuta, the Ogun State Government in collaboration with Samsung Heavy Industries, Korea (SHIK), inaugurated the Ogun State Technical Institute. According to the project consultant, Mr Sina Fakeye, the partnership “is meant to enhance, renovate, improve, rebuild and equip the school (training centre) to a world-class status.”
The cooperation was “to impart highly specialised skills to the trainees in marine welding, electrical/ electronics, spray painting, woodwork, machining and catering.”
To this end, state-of-the-art equipment and furniture were supplied to the Institute. Top-notch instructors were provided by Samsung Heavy Industries to undertake the first batch of trainingthe-trainers programme.
The Institute has the main block, sitting on about 1750m2 of land. It has welding, electrical/ electronic and spraying laboratories; there are standard classrooms, computer/IT room, a staff room, warehouse to store the consumables and attached conveniences. The woodwork shop is fully equipped with wood-processing machines such lathes, band saws and consumables to last one year. There is a new kitchen and a recently renovated one, equipped with boilers, mixers, ovens, industrial cookers, freezers, coffee machines, fridges, amongst others. Also provided are boreholes with elevated tanks and industrial generators.
According to the Hon. Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota, students graduating from GSTC with NABTEB certificates (National Technical Certificate and National Business Certificate) ultimately, will have the opportunity to move to the Technical Institute and obtain a Diploma, through which they can proceed to universities and equivalent institutions.
When I saw the facilities engendered by this partnership, I shook my head in wonder. I doubt if there are public institutions of learning in the country that have some of these machines. I saw a mini sawing machine, the student version of the typical sawing machine in saw mills. I was impressed! While some opposition elements waste precious time looking for what is not lost, the governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, is busy implementing programmes and building partnerships that will leave the state better than he met it. You could see the new environment at GSTC provided by the state government in partnership with SHIK. This revolution in technical/vocational sector in the state is work-in-progress.