The management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, has commissioned a block-making industry, a solar power system, and a multi-point Wi-Fi installation executed through the institution’s Special Students’ Entrepreneurship Practical Projects.

The projects, undertaken by students under the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (MAPCED), were commissioned by the Chairman of the Governing Council, Emeritus Prof. Kamaldeen Balogun, who led other members of the Council and management to the facilities.

The commissioned projects, according to a statement by the Institutioon’s Head of Public Relations and Protocol, ‘Yemi Ajibola, included a 5KVA Solar Power System, a Multi-Point Wi-Fi System, and a Concrete Block-Making Industry, all executed during the last academic session with technical support from industry experts.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Balogun said polytechnics in Nigeria possess the capacity to drive the nation’s entrepreneurship revolution if adequately supported by government and relevant stakeholders.

He expressed satisfaction with MAPOLY’s commitment to skills-based education in line with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) directive for polytechnics.

He assured that the Governing Council would continue to deploy resources to strengthen the Centre’s production activities and ensure that the quality of concrete blocks produced by the institution meets and surpasses industry standards within Ogun State.

Earlier, a documentary highlighting the students’ technical training and the role of industry experts, many of whom are alumni of the Polytechnic, was presented to guests.

In his remarks, the Rector, Arc. Dr. ‘Koye Jolaoso, reiterated the Polytechnic’s resolve to expand the scope and quality of the Centre’s projects through inter-departmental collaboration, particularly with the School of Mechanical Engineering, where block-making machines are also being fabricated.

Delivering the welcome address, the Director of MAPCED, Arc. Dr. Olabisi Baiyewu, appreciated the Governing Council and management for their support, noting that the Centre is repositioning MAPOLY as a reference point for practical entrepreneurship education in Nigeria. He added that the operational model of the Centre has the potential to serve as a source of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the institution.

According to him, the projects were executed by students from the School of Engineering, School of Environmental Sciences, and the School of Computer Science and Computer Engineering, under the guidance of industry experts.