The Rector of the Ogun State Institute of Technology (OGITECH), Igbesa, has described the growing culture of conferences, seminars and academic lectures in the institution as a deliberate transformation that has created a more vibrant and productive learning environment.
He made the observation after the second Hybrid International Conference organised by the institution’s School of Engineering Technology under the leadership of the Dean of the faculty, Engineer Dr Dauda Adekunle Folarin.
According to the Rector, one of the gaps he noticed on assuming office was the near absence of regular academic activities that define a serious tertiary institution.
“One expects a good academic institution to have certain facilities and activities, such as conferences, annual lectures, workshops and seminars. However, when I assumed office, I discovered that most of these activities were lacking. I therefore felt that we needed to change the situation,” he said.
He explained that he immediately summoned all the deans and charged them to prioritise these scholarly engagements. The result, he noted, has been transformative.
“Over the past three years, this initiative has become a well-established culture and a valuable tradition in the institution. Today, we have conferences organised by different schools, including Engineering, Business, Finance and Sciences. Some departments also organise their own seminars. In addition, the institution organises its own academic lectures and conferences.”
The Rector stressed that the development of any higher institution goes beyond physical infrastructure and the acquisition of technical skills. It must also include the overall academic and personal growth of students and staff.
“As a result, we now have a vibrant and productive academic environment. Development is not just about providing infrastructure or equipping students with modern skills; it must also involve their overall academic and personal development.
“This is my vision for the institution, and I thank God that it is gradually becoming a reality.”
The second Hybrid International Conference by the School of Technology is the latest evidence of the culture the Rector and the deans have worked to institutionalise. The event, which combined physical and virtual participation, further positioned OGITECH as an institution committed to scholarly engagement and continuous academic renewal.