UNILORIN TEC trains over 140,000 graduates –Raheem

The Director, Technical and Entrepreneurship Centre (TEC), University of Ilorin, Prof. Usman Adebimpe Raheem, has disclosed that the Centre has trained over 140,000 students since its establishment.

He added that it was gratifying that graduates of the Centre are doing very well in various skills acquired.

Prof. Raheem disclosed this last Tuesday (February 27, 2024) while featuring on Oro To Nlo, a popular Yoruba current affairs programme on UNILORIN 89.3 FM, the official radio station of the University of Ilorin. The programme was anchored by the Head of the Station, Mr. Ibrahim Akintola Idris (Alooma)

The Director, who is the penultimate Chairman of the University of Ilorin chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), stressed that the Centre, which was established in 2011, has produced graduates in various skills that have  enabled them to be self employed after graduation.

Prof. Raheem also pointed out that the Centre runs 81 different skills and have different units which included, Photographic Unit,  Graphic Unit, Paint Unit, Diamond Unit as well as Consumable Unit where izal and other disinfectant products are made, among others

The Director, who was recently elected as a Senate Representative on   the University Governing Council, opined that this opportunity is not limited to students alone but external publics of the University could also participate in it in order to add values to their skills and could be awarded certificates.

While speaking on a one-week programme organised by the UNILORIN TEC, for Entreprenuers, Prof. Raheem disclosed that people from the United Kingdom, USA, Ghana and Zimbabwe participated in  the programme. He pointed out that the contestant who emerged first  at the end of the contest received the sum of N500,000  while the winner of the second position was given #300,000 as the second runner-up was awarded the sum of  N200,000.

The Director called on the Federal Government to fund its universities properly in order to enable those in the academia to carry out research, which is one of the basic functions of any University in the world.

He also stressed further that the welfare of the University lecturers must be well taken care of in order to boost  their morale

The don acknowledged the contributions of the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, towards the progress of the Centre as he also appreciated the support and cooperation of the Director of Works and the Coordinator of the Physical Planning Unit of the University.

Prof. Raheem thanked members of the University Senate on his recent election as a member of the University’s Governing Council.

However, Prof. Raheem who is a Professor of Medical Geography, stressed the need for Nigerians to keep their environments clean at all times, noting that quite a number of illness people are facing today emanate from  their  environments.

He said, “if you have a clean environment, you will live a healthy life and be free from visiting hospital from time to time”.