Tech-U Chancellor, VC Honoured as OYOMESI Holds Festival of Learning

Brilliance, grit, innovation and effective use of capabilities were on display as The Technical University, Ibadan hosted the 2018 edition of the OYOMESI Hackathon between June 29 and July 1, 2018. The Hackathon, a part of the Festival of Learning of the Oyo State Model Education System Interventions drew participants from different parts of the federation. Not only was it to groom internet savvy youths and wizards, it was part of efforts to create solutions to tackle flooding and other environmental issues.

In her remarks, Dr. Bisi Akin-Alabi, OYOMESI team leader and Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Education confirmed that Governor Abiola Ajimobi has a reason for making education one of the major pillars of development of his administration. “If we raise more civil and competent people, they will be governable”, she said.

The CEO of West Africa ENRG, one of the companies that partnered with Paul O’Callaghan disclosed that the idea of the hackathon was generated to ensure that Ibadan remains clean. He said “Ibadan had a reputation of being the dirtiest city in Nigeria. That has changed though; so we thought of sdustaining it. We thought of the technology being used overseas and we are thinking of localizing it”.

In determining the winner of the N 2 million investment prize, the organizers looked out not just for the best solution but for the most marketable solution. After rounds of idea pitching and hacking, Team ENUMARE with seven members came first.

The Festival of Learning continued with an exhibition at the Emeritus Professor Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, UCH where distinguished persons were decorated as OYOMESI Role Models for their meritorious contributions to the development of functional education in Oyo State and beyond. Chief Tunde Afolabi, the Chairman of Amni Petroleum and pioneer Chancellor of The Technical University was decorated as Chief Positive Role Model while the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ayobami Salami was decorated as a Role Model. Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, Professor Doug Buttery of the University of Delaware, USA, Professor Kingston Nyamapfene, President, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Mrs. Yetunde Morolake Ibironke, the Principal, Community Grammar School Ring Road as well as Mrs. T.O Orowale, Principal, St. Annes School, Molete  were also decorated.