Babcock University has officially unveiled and opened its door for enrollment and admission into Babcock University Centre for Vocational Studies in Oke-Ode, Kwara State. Speaking during the official unveiling of the Center, the President/ Vice Chancellor of Babcock University, Prof Ademola Tayo said the Centre is being planted as a clarion call to drive entrepreneurship and reduce the high rate of unemployment across the country, noting that the unveiling of the Centre is the beginning of greater things to come to Oke-Ode. ‘The University has a very great vision for the Centre, our plan is to grow and develop it step by step’, he said. Prof Tayo urged the leaders of Oke-Ode community to work and partner with the University for the growth and development of the Centre especially in the area of student enrollment, stressing the need for their cooperation and collaboration with the University, which will encourage the University to invest more and bring the great plan it has for the Centre to fruition.
Also, the Senior Vice President/ Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Prof Philemon Amanze, while outlining the take-off programmes at the center urged the members of the community not to despise the days of humble beginnings, as he reminisced and likened the beginning of the Centre to the beginning of the Adventist Seminary of West Africa over sixty years ago, when it was established in a forest in Ilisan; before it transformed to the present Babcock University, which has become a global brand.
The Centre is set to admit students into Theology, Education and Vocational programs ranging from two semesters to four semesters, depending on the program of choice by applicants.
At the event, the National President of Oke-Ode community, Alhaji Nasiru Salaudeen expressed delight in the milestone event. He thanked the University leadership for heeding to the call by the National University Commission and the Federal Government that more attention should be given to vocational studies, entrepreneurship and capacity development in areas that can transform university graduates from being mere job seekers to job creators. ‘The decision to make Oke-Ode town the destination of choice for this Centre is right on spot. We are hopeful that the University authorities will, without delay, set in motion the necessary machinery for commencement of academic activities at the Centre for the forthcoming 2024/2025 academic session’, he said. Alhaji Salaudeed noted that Oke-Ode community is standing solidly behind the Centre as a major external stakeholder, since the commencement of activities at the Centre will bring a spill-over of developmental effects to the community.
In her remarks, Prof Ruth Aderanti said the vision and project of the Centre started as a result of a man’s love for his hometown, people and country. She attributed the realization of the Centre to the unwavering effort of Emeritus Prof Joel Dada Awoniyi, who undertook several visits to Babcock University to urge the management to expedite work on the project site, where hectares of prime land in Oke-Ode were donated to the University.
Present at the event was an elated ‘one hundred and four years’ Emeritus Prof Joel Dada Awoniyi, who cut the tape to unveil the Centre in company of the President, Western Nigeria Union, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Ezekiel Adeleye and other leaders of the church, clerics from the community, executive members of Oke-Ode community, community leaders and prospective applicants.
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