LASPOTECH Partners IT Firm on Mobile Phone Lab

Funmi Ogundare

The Lagos State Polytechnic recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a software developing company, Afrifone Limited, to establish a mobile phone and IPad repair laboratory at its Ikorodu campus and equip the students with the necessary skills to develop themselves and the institution.

In his remarks, the Rector, Mr. Oluyinka Sogunro, expressed hope that the partnership would improve the rating of the institution and add value to students’ academics. “We need to plan for our youths, you will recall that youth empowerment is a major project of the Lagos State Government and we must key into it, this is one of it that we are doing today.”

He regretted the problem of unemployment in the country, saying that since there are a lot of graduates without jobs, its products should become employers of labour.

“One of our cardinal points is to collaborate with relevance agencies to bring progress to the institution; our partnership with Afrifone is a key thing in the right direction and a worthwhile experience. We want our products to be employers of labor, rather than job seekers and use the skills they get here to empower themselves.”

Sogunro affirmed the organisation’s readiness to provide the tools such as audio-visual training gadgets to work and ensure the laboratory is functional, adding that it will also train the polytechnic staff to man it. “Students and artisans will benefit, it will improve the state and the lives of Nigerians as a whole. The company has also promised to absorb the students for a one-year industrial training.”

The rector, who disclosed that the polytechnic would be marking its 40th anniversary this year, appealed to the students to take the project seriously as it is an opportunity and the beginning of good things to come.

The Divisional Head, Afrifone Limited, Mr. Sandeep Natu, who expressed delight about the partnership, said students who are interested in electronics and telecommunications will be impacted and made ready for the electronics and mobile phone assembly industry, while reiterating that it would provide internship and employment opportunities for the students.

“The skills they will get here can be used anywhere, our aim is to empower the youths and be a part of the success of Lagos as well as its culture and environment.”

In another development, the polytechnic has matriculated its fresh students on full and part-time programmes for its 2016/2017 academic session.

Congratulating the students, Sogunro urged them to shun any unproductive pastime that might distract their attention away from their academics, which should be their paramount interest during their stay in the institution.

“The polytechnic has resolved to ensure that cultism and other related anti-social vices like hooliganism, extortion, gambling, harassment, among others do not thrive here. The penalty for involvement in cult-related activities and anti-social vices is expulsion. The academic board will also not hesitate to take stern disciplinary action against any erring student for involvement in examination malpractice.”

He disclosed that the polytechnic dismissed 15 and 75 students for cultism and examination malpractices respectively during the last academic session, adding, “in case you desire to belong to any of the associations, I urge you to be cautious in order to make the right choice. Progressive associations promote peace and academic excellence, but eschew gangsters and violence. This clarification is necessary in view of the rampant incidence of cult-related activities in most tertiary institutions in Nigeria today.”

The rector also disclosed the institution’s plan to build students’ hostel through a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement, which will commence before the end of the year, adding that it has also upgraded its ICT centre from the donation of Huawei Limited and facilitated through the office of the special adviser on education to enhance quality research.