The newly elected Dean of the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT), Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Dr. Idowu Abiodun Akinrosoye, has advised polytechnic students not to see themselves as inferior to their counterparts in universities, saying success depends on purpose and personal commitment rather than the institution attended.
Akinrosoye gave the advice in an interview with the NAMACOS Editorial Board shortly after his election as Dean.
He urged polytechnic students to remain focused on their goals, stressing that every individual has the opportunity to succeed by discovering their purpose, working towards it and allowing God to direct their path.
The don also encouraged students to protect the peaceful atmosphere and image of the institution by avoiding actions capable of disrupting academic activities.
Addressing graduating students, Akinrosoye said certificates alone do not determine success, noting that skills, values and personal development are equally important.
Reflecting on his career, the Dean recounted how he rose from the position of Technologist III to become Chief Lecturer before emerging as Dean of the faculty.
He explained that he initially joined the institution as a technologist, providing technical support to students in the Mass Communication Department’s studio before seeking conversion to the academic cadre.
According to him, the desire to become a lecturer motivated him to pursue higher qualifications, leading to his conversion in 2009.
Akinrosoye said he subsequently obtained a Bachelor’s degree after his Higher National Diploma (HND), a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Olabisi Onabanjo University, another Master’s degree in Managerial Psychology from the University of Ibadan, and eventually earned a PhD in 2023.
He described education as a lifelong journey that demands discipline, sacrifice and determination, urging aspiring academics to acquire the qualifications required for career advancement.
The Dean also highlighted his previous leadership roles in the institution, including Coordinator of the Daily Part-Time Programme, Acting Head of the Mass Communication Department, substantive Head of Department and Sub-Dean of the faculty before his election as Dean.
He said his emergence as Dean was his first attempt at the position, describing the election as a keen contest between himself and another Chief Lecturer, Dr. Bello G. A.
Source: NAMACOS Editorial Board (NEB), Iree.
