Former Senator Secured $1M for New Nigerian Tech School

Former Senator Ayoade Adeseun has opened up about his five-year journey to bring Nigeria's Federal Polytechnic Ayede to life, securing 500 million naira in federal funding for the technical training hub. The institution is now thriving in Oyo State's rural Ogbomoso region, addressing a critical shortage of skilled workers while bringing educational opportunity to underserved communities.

The breakthrough came after Adeseun discovered a troubling gap during his first term in Nigeria's National Assembly. While serving on the House Committee on Education, he reviewed a federal study showing that Oyo State had just one federal institution, the prestigious University of Ibadan, while some states had two or three.

"To say we don't have any other federal educational institution in this state was scandalous," Adeseun told The Punch in a recent interview. He immediately set his sights on bringing a technically-oriented school to complement the traditional university.

The effort took persistence. Adeseun didn't succeed during his first term, but he intensified his push during his second tenure, ultimately securing approval and funding from President Muhammadu Buhari's administration in February 2021.

His motivation went beyond local politics. Nigeria has long struggled with a shortage of technical skills, often relying on foreign workers for carpentry, construction, and other hands-on trades until those workers returned home as their own economies improved.

"The world is becoming technological," Adeseun explained. "If we don't train people in technologically-oriented institutions, we will lag behind."

The senator's background in urban planning shaped his vision for the school's location. Rather than placing it in crowded Ogbomoso township, he deliberately chose rural Ayede village to spread development and prevent urban congestion.

After consulting with the late Soun of Ogbomoso, who blessed the project, the community donated about 100 acres of land. Adeseun then navigated the complex federal approval process and secured the substantial budget allocation.

The institution now offers National Diploma programs in accountancy, engineering, and computer science with a focus on practical, entrepreneurial training. It currently operates from a temporary site in Iresa-Pupa while permanent facilities are developed.

The Ripple Effect

The polytechnic's impact is already visible. Two graduating classes have completed their studies, with another convocation approaching. Students from across the region now have access to affordable federal technical education without leaving their home state.

The school is also driving economic activity to Ayede village and surrounding rural areas, exactly as Adeseun envisioned. Local businesses benefit from the student population, and families no longer need to send children to distant cities for technical training.

Perhaps most importantly, the polytechnic is helping fill Nigeria's skills gap at a time when technological expertise has become essential for economic growth. Each graduate represents another Nigerian worker equipped to build, innovate, and compete in an increasingly technical global economy.

The institution even survived an attempt to relocate it, with stakeholders rallying to keep the school in its intended rural location.

One senator's determination to address an educational gap has created lasting opportunity for thousands of Nigerian students seeking practical skills for the modern workforce.