By Olowoyo Oluwasegun
Undoubtedly, when the righteous reigns, the people rejoice. Hence, one can unequivocally say that good leadership is a blessing from God. Just as the Bible says “He who finds a wife, finds a good thing and obtains favour from the Lord”, finding a good leader/administrator is indeed a good thing and favour obtained from Heaven. This is simply a story of RUGIPO under the Adegun-led management in less than 16 months.
The wind of change that started blowing over the RUGIPO community is indeed one that can only be orchestrated by God’s intervention. After what seemed in every sense an excruciatingly hopeless situation for both the members of the institution community and the institution itself, in a swift twist of fate, a number of events orchestrated a turn around worth mentioning
1. End of the tenure of the immediate past management of the institution which had brought untold agony and the worse level of welfare for both the institution and its staff members.
2. The suspension of the former Governing Board Chairman (Banji Alabi)
3. The demise of the immediate past Governor of the state which orchestrated the emergence of his then Deputy as Governor and now Governor-elect, and as an icing on the cake,
4. The appointment of Mr Adegun S. Olorunwa as Acting Rector of the institution.
When heaven is set to step in on your case, having heard your nights of weeping and outcry, He deals with the demons who have hunted your nights and almost assumed the God position over your life.
Prior to the period under review, the institution had the worst of experiences in its history. These included but not limited to almost a year of unpaid salaries; payment of as low as 10% of a months salary, victimisation of staff members, proscription of unim activities, hostility among staff members, misrepresentation of the institution’s state of affairs for personal gains by those close to the Visitor, inexplicable level of hatred towards the institution by the Visitor, mindless reduction of the institution’s subvention to a crippling level and, loss of many lives of staff members to illness they could have managed to survive if they had been paid as and when due.
However, in less than 16 months under Mr. Adegun, despite being in Acting capacity, the once hostile atmosphere plagued by fear experienced a turn around into a considerably and remarkably peaceful one.
Funny enough, almost all principal officers of the institution, are in Acting capacity, yet, the institution had a completely different experience, a direct opposite of what it was for many years under substantive principal officers. This really emphasises the fact that it doesn’t take titles to make impact. It simply takes the vision, will and drive that characterize true leadership.
In all honesty, if you had never had a bitter experience, you may never value or appreciate what it feels like when you have a sweet one.
In a remarkable display of true impactful and focused leadership, Adegun has exhibited unflinching commitment to the welfare of his workers which he holds as sexond to none. His relentless scout for ideas at the beginning of his administration paid off as the institution began to witness a revival of almost all dead ventures of the institution to drive improved IGR.
The good relationship the institution has been enjoying with the current Governor of the state, leading to several interventions towards offsetting the backlog of unpaid salaries isn’t a function of coincidence but a divine blessing for the institution and a mark of God’s approval of Adegun’s administration as divinely orchestrated. Heaven’s will always comes with divine provisions. For the first time in many many years, the name RUGIPO rings a bell positively and favourably in Alagbaka.
The outstanding leadership and commitment of Adegun doesn’t end with exploring a good relationship with the state government, this amiable Administrator has relentlessly explored other avenues towards improving the welfare of the institution and bringing about rapid development.
Indeed when you say “Yes”, your chi says “Yes”. As a mark of God’s “Yes” to his administration, several innovations and projects have been birthed under his watch. These include, but are not limited to Centre for Climate Change, Career Service Center and NELFUNXD.
While the institution’s ventures have been revived by the Adegun -led management and their capacities advanced, the institution keeps exploring other ways to advance its IGR. These include the recent revival of the moribond Metal Fabrication Plant of the institution which is now fully functional.
Most recent of the various amazing outputs of Adegun’s resourceful and developmental initiatives is the intervention of the Minister for Interior, Hon (Dr) Bunmi Tunji-Ojo towards reviving the abandoned NNDC Indoor Games project in the institution. Another of the Minister’s intervention in the institution is his approval of a Solar Energy generating facility to power the entire institution, requested by the Acting Rector during the management’s recent visit to the Minister in Abuja. This makes it the second of the three requests made by the Acting Rector which would be approved by the Minister and there are indications that the third would also receive his approval in no distant time.
With these developments, RUGIPO isn’t just experiencing improved staff welfare, but becoming a household name in terms of rapid development among other Polytechnics across the nation.
Also worth mentioning is the accomplishments of the institution’s recently established Career Service Center which has turned RUGIPO into a reference point for other institutions by TETFund. The various activities and initiatives of the Career Service Center are indeed second to none across the nation as the Center under the leadership of the Acting Director, Mr Abiodun Ogunduboye keeps exploring various collaborative opportunities across the nation and beyond towards ensuring the institution turns out better equiped and resourceful graduates who would be valuable employees and resourceful employers of labour after graduation.
On a daily basis, the Center keeps securing indications of support from local and international established organizations for internship opportunities, IT placements, graduate trainee programs and job placements for the institution’s Alumni. Other partnerships being explored by the Center include connecting with successful Alumnus of the institution. This gesture has continued to yield massive positive results.
Under Mr. Olorunwa’s leadership, the institution has witnessed significant growth and development in its academic culture. His zero-tolerance policy for cultism, examination malpractice, and other unbecoming behaviors has improved the academic culture of the institution.
The welfare of students has also been a top priority for Mr. Olorunwa. The institution has become one of the most affordable polytechnics in the southwest, offering various programs to support students’ career needs.
Perhaps most remarkably, Mr. Olorunwa’s leadership has restored hope to the institution. After years of struggling with various challenges, the institution has begun to experience a turnaround. The atmosphere has changed, and staff and students are once again optimistic about the future.
Indeed, Mr. Adegun S. Olorunwa’s tenure as Acting Rector of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo has been a resounding success. Posterity shall forever keep his names written in gold as one of the best and most resourceful Administrators that has ever managed the affairs of the institution. His leadership has transformed the institution in no little measure, and his impacts will be unforgettably felt for many years to come.
It is clear that the emergence and appointment of Mr Adegun S. Olorunwa as Acting Rector of the institution is nothing short of a divine intervention. God has uprooted major obstacles, from the topmost to the least, to begin His redemption work. The institution is grateful for this divine intervention and hopes to sustain the progress made so far.
