The Ijesa Community Development Assembly has recorded another major milestone in its youth empowerment drive with the graduation of 170 Ijesa scholars from the Federal Technical College, Ilesa. The milestone was celebrated at a valedictory service held in Ilesa on Sunday, July 19, 2026, where the Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi described the achievement as a testament to the power of community-driven education and collective investment in the future of Ijesaland.
Speaking at the valedictory service held on Sunday, July 19, 2026, the Asiwaju of Ijesaland and Chairman of ICDA, Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi, described the occasion as a historic celebration of vision, sacrifice and collective responsibility towards securing a brighter future for Ijesaland.
Fasuyi congratulated the graduating scholars, noting that they were leaving the institution equipped not only with certificates but also with practical skills, entrepreneurial competence and the confidence to become employers of labour and contributors to national development. He urged them to remain disciplined, innovative and worthy ambassadors of Ijesaland.
According to him, the scholarship initiative was conceived in 2023 after an ICDA delegation discovered that only 34 out of approximately 1,400 students at the Federal Technical College were of Ijesa origin, despite the institution being located in Ijesaland. The situation, he explained, was traced to the inability of many qualified Ijesa youths to afford tuition, boarding and other educational expenses.
Determined to reverse the trend, ICDA engaged the management of the college and the Federal Ministry of Education, securing 250 admission slots exclusively for qualified Ijesa youths. The Assembly also mobilised financial support from 78 distinguished sons and daughters of Ijesaland who sponsored the students throughout their three-year academic programme.
Fasuyi described the intervention as one of the most impactful community-driven educational empowerment initiatives in the history of Ijesaland, commending the sponsors and mentors for investing in the future of the younger generation.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government's renewed emphasis on technical and vocational education, stressing that practical skills acquisition remains essential for entrepreneurship, job creation and sustainable economic development.
Addressing the graduating scholars, the ICDA Chairman encouraged them to continue learning beyond the classroom and translate their technical knowledge into productive enterprises that would benefit society. He reminded them that an entire community had invested in their future and urged them to repay that confidence through integrity, excellence and hard work.
He also expressed appreciation to the FTC Coordinating Committee, the management of the Federal Technical College, Ilesa, under the leadership of Director/Principal Mrs. Kalejaiye A.O., the ICDA management team, and numerous individuals whose contributions ensured the success of the programme.
As part of the event, Fasuyi acknowledged 44 donors who provided financial support for the valedictory ceremony, describing their generosity as a testament to their commitment to educational advancement and youth empowerment in Ijesaland.
He concluded by calling on all sons and daughters of Ijesaland to sustain investments in education and human capital development, expressing confidence that with unity and continued commitment, Ijesaland would emerge as a leading centre for technical excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable development in Nigeria.
.png)
No comments:
Post a Comment