Bola Ige Spirit Alive As Aregbesola Inaugurates Mechatronic Institute…Ige Was A Practical Man – General Adebayo

The spirit of Late Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Chief Ajibola Ige came alive on Monday as the governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola inaugurated the Bola Ige Mechatronic Institute by sending forth for training in Germany 31 graduates to learn the art of new automobile maintenance technology.

This was just as the former governor of old Western Region, General Adeyinka Adebayo ‎pointed out that Chief Bola Ige was a practical man who worked for the growth of Yorubaland and Nigeria as a country.

Aregbesola at the send forth ceremony at the Government House banquet hall held that the Mechatronic Institute is another subtle way to improve the economy of Osun and that of the country.

The governor stressed that the institute when completed will be the first in Nigeria, saying that the institute will deal with the latest technology involved in modern vehicles.‎
‎
According to him, ” Osun is the first of all States and Federal Institutions to establish this World class Automotive Skill-gap Bridge in Nigeria meant for promoting skills needed for employability of our graduates, technicians and improvement for artisans in the sector.‎

“The German World-renowned Auto Didactic Equipment Manufacturers, Messrs LUCAS NULLE, Kerpen, Germany was awarded the equipment supply contract with the Letter of credit opened by the First Bank Plc through BOI.

“To build the this Institute we got 1 billion Naira soft loan by Bank of Industry, we commended automotive ‎council and the first bank who helped us to access it. Before you come back from Germany, your centre will be ready, please learn very well because you will come back to train our local mechanics”. The governor said.

Aregbesola emphasised that the exercise is purely a practical delivery project as trainees shall be tested and certified before graduation from the centre. ‎

“The capacity to maintain the automobile that we have in Nigeria is so low, our auto engineers, technicians and mechanics are getting out of job because of technological changes as the era of trial-and-error to fix auto maintenance is gone; everything is knowledge-based and Osun is, ready to empower not only the indigenes but all Nigerians willing to seek knowledge at the BIMI, Esa-Oke.
‎
On why the institute was named after chief Bola Ige, aregbesola noted it was so because Ige represented the best that technology, a man who never get tired of seeking knowledge.

‎The governor of the old western region. General Adebayo commended Aregbesola for the positive change he has brought to Osun, adding that Aregbesola is practical as Bola ige was.

In Adebayo’s Words, “you are a practical man like Bola Ige, I can not forget Ige until I die, because he worked for Yorubaland and Nigeria. I am happy for being here, Bola Ige was my commissioner for one year 8 months, Ige was a workaholic, instead of me making him the Attorney general, I made him my commissioner for Agriculture.

“Bola Ige was the foundation that the Southwestern states of the federation is enjoying in Agriculture”. Adebayo stressed.

‎Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser Federal/liaison Matters, Hon. Idia Babalola at the send forth noted that the institute will deal with the latest technology involved modern vehicles which consist of combined electro-mechanical systems with fully automated controls termed “mechatronics” that reduce use of kilos of wires making way for light weight and greater efficient motor vehicles of today. ‎

Babalola added that fund for the project is an inter-ventionary soft loan provision by the National Automotive Council using part of its Auto Development Fund Loan Scheme domiciled with Bank of Industry (BOI).

The special adviser averred that Osun is ready to empower not only its indigenes but all Nigerians willing to seek knowledge at the Bola Ige Mechatonics Institute, Esa-oke.

“We plan to offer through National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) & National Universities Commission (NUC) approval for upgrade of the polytechnic syllabus, a degree course on Auto Mechatronics using the facilities in future”. Babalola told the gathering.‎

Also speaking at the send forth of trainees, Managing Director Osun State Investment company Limited Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, held that following due process, advertisement was placed to attract qualified automotive, mechanical and electrical engineers and technicians who were tested/recruited.

He pointed out that 76 people applied after which 31 candidates were selected based on merit as conducted by the state committee.

His Royal Majesty, the Owamiran of Esa-Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adediran commended the governor for honouring Late Bola Ige by siting the institute in Esa-Oke, saying the town will be more honoured by changing the the name of the college to the name of Bola Ige.

He charged the trainees to take the advantage of going to Germany to bring glory to the state and not to do that which will tarnish the image of the state and the country.

“This is an opportunity which you have to make use of and for the governor I thank you for bringing this to us in Esa-Oke. I want to tell you that Esa-oke is blessed, and to you parents, I thank you, but you must be prayerful as your children is going to Germany, this is an opportunity given to them is what some people in their life ‎time never got”.