Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri, has held its first combined convocation ceremony, awarding certificates to 425 National Diploma and Higher National Diploma graduates.
The event took place on Saturday at the institution’s permanent site in Ekeremor Local Government Area (LGA).
Governor Douye Diri, who attended as Visitor to the polytechnic, used the occasion to restate his administration’s focus on technical and vocational education.
Diri commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its role in developing tertiary institutions across the state.
He said the agency had been instrumental in improving infrastructure and teaching facilities at Bayelsa Polytechnic and other state-owned higher institutions.
"TETFund as an organ of the Federal Government has been part and parcel of the history of educational development in Bayelsa and indeed across Nigeria," he said.
The governor said the state had shifted emphasis from white-collar education to technical and science training to equip young people with practical skills.
He believed that science and technical colleges established in the state’s eight local government areas were designed to feed the polytechnic with skilled students.
"When we assumed office, the first thing on our minds was education, the second was education, and the third was education.
"This government has prioritised technical and science education that equips our youths to become employers of labour rather than job seekers," he said.
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He recounted the progress since the polytechnic moved to its permanent site, including programme accreditation, infrastructural expansion and improved academic standards.
To support the institution further, he approved the purchase of two Coaster buses and directed that the campus be fenced for security.
He also instructed the state Commissioner for Works, Moses Teibowei to assess the construction of internal roads and other campus needs.
On power supply, Diri vowed that the state would extend electricity from its new gas turbines through Sagbama, Aleibiri and Ekeremor, rather than rely on a diesel generator for the institution.
Rector Dr Wisdom Clinton Soreh described the convocation as a defining milestone, while listing projects completed with state support, including renovated academic buildings, new classrooms and offices, upgraded laboratories, a rehabilitated library, solar-powered streetlights and water projects.
Diri earlier commissioned the Entrepreneurship Skill Development Centre and Warehouse, built to strengthen practical learning.
He urged graduates to represent the institution and the state well and encouraged young people to embrace technical education over reliance on political patronage.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included the Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, member representing Ekeremor constituency 1, Hon Tare Porri, member representing Yenagoa Constituency 1, Chief Ayibanegiyefa Egba, and their Kolokuma/Opokuma constituency 1 colleague, Pamoh Werinipre.
Others were the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Nimibofa Ayawei; the Acting Chief of Staff, Government House, Irorodamie Komonibo; and the Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Governor's Office, Comrade Gowon Toruyouyei.
The rest were the Commissioner for Education, Dr Gentle Emelah represented by the Permanent secretary Ministry of Education, as well as the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, traditional rulers, education stakeholders, members of the host community among others.
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