Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, otherwise known as MAPOLY, is a big deal in our educational sector. It is so big a deal that it is has been a subject of discourses on many academic fronts, particularly, in the field of communication and journalism. But chances are most Nigerians reading this article would ask “MAPO what? Wetin?”
That was precisely the response I got when I spoke with a group of friends in Ibadan during a workshop I was privileged to be a beneficiary, about a month ago. Not a single person out of then had any clue on some of their alumni let alone of other schools.
Nigerian Students and their aversion for researches and history.
In the course of the training, our conversation veered off into various topics and I seized the opportunity to educate them on the merits of facts finding/verification of information before drawing a conclusion. Also, I told them a few things about MAPOLY which they did not know earlier. Before the end of this piece, I will tell you some of it too.
However, few days ago, Sahara Reports reported that The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos zonal office, has arrested seven National Diploma (ND) students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State for alleged offenses bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretenses and possession of forged documents. In other words, some students of Moshood Abiola polytechnic were arrested for internet fraud.
As expected, some machinators have seen this news story as an avenue to launch their machinations on the school. They have neglected the meat of the story which is internet fraud and its gaining of an unprecedented ascendancy among Nigerian youth. Rather, they have decided to attack the brand MAPOLY and unsparingly perpetuate their own mudslinging activities.
Money and Fame are inseparable duo. They are the twin factors that frame the minds of young people coming of age in Nigeria. The mad rush of becoming wealthy and famous among Nigerian youths has led to the exemplification of immoral and illegal acts among them. This is not limited to any ethnic group, religion or academic institution; it cut across all divides.
News reports abound on internet fraudsters that had been arrested from different higher institutions in Nigeria. In one of SaharaReporters pieces, in 2015, three students Fisayo Adetoro, Emmanuel Omole, and Wale Ayeni who specialize in defrauding unsuspecting members of the public through the internet that were arrested were linked to JABU AND FUTA.
Also, EFFC on 26th July, 2016 reported The EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, arrested five suspected undergraduate scammers. Four from the Federal University of Technology Akure, (FUTA) and one from Adekunle Ajashin University, Akungba, (AAUA).
Similarly, an online news medium, ‘hotnaijanews' Published a news story on 6th June, 2013 which reads ‘
Five undergraduates and four other Nigerians were on Monday, June 3, 2013 arrested by Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over internet-related fraud.
The undergraduates, who are undergoing different courses in different institutions of higher learning, were rounded up in Ibadan, Oyo State in a sting operation.
They are:
Sunkanmi Odewale – 200 level Mechanical Engineering student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State;
Olowofola Tolu – 300 level Economics student of Lead City University, Ibadan;
Ekundayo Damilola – 300 level Computer Science/Economics student, Lead City University, Ibadan;
Adelabu Kolawole – HND II Purchasing and Supply student of Ibadan Polytechnic, Ibadan;
Bankole Oluwaseyi Fisayo – OND II Marketing student of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.
Others are:
Okewole Adesesan – Real Estate Manager with Sesan Okewole & Sons Limited;
Emmanuel Ubaman – trader;
Fisayo Ajibola – Travel Agent with Milleage Travel and Tours;
Oyebisi Femi – a fish farmer.
The suspects who regularly milk their unsuspecting victims via the internet were arrested in different locations at Oluyole Estate extension, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Items recovered from them include eight laptops, one mini-laptop, two Ipads; two Honda cars; a Toyota Camry and Toyota Venza cars.’
Apparently, the ogre of internet fraud is generally wrestling with Nigerian youths and it has eaten deeply into their fabrics. This menace is prevalent on our streets and at our schools. It is pervasive everywhere, here, in Nigeria.
Therefore, our collective effort is needed to douse it’s aggravating power. From government’s introduction of potent policies to curb its spread , high institutions of learning’s organisation of orientation for their students, to parents going back to the roots by retracing their steps to where they have misstep and faltered in their parental duties to inculcate values and morals into their children.
Other than castigating institutions, such as the current malicious attacks that has been showered on MAPOLY. As students are unarguably the products and best images of the homes they have come from.
It is no more outlandish that we'd always have chaffs among wheats. Every institutions and homes has its own bad eggs that are ready to drag the hardly earned name through the mire.
This current situation validates a Yoruba aphorism which goes ‘Ti Oro ba gbe omo ara ilu, kosi aburu ninu re, amo ti Oro ba gbe omo oba, won a kii'gbe eemo wolu' which could be sparingly translate as ‘when the Oro cult members arrest the son of an ordinary man, it sparks no issue. But when the king's son gets arrested it sparks terror and trouble.
I wondered why everyday Nigerians—ignorantly derive joy in demarketing things and peddle hearsays. I know of people who haven’t been to some certain places, yet, they speak I’ll f those places as though they has been there. Isn’t that hilarious and confounding?
To be noticed in Nigeria, you need to understand the art of bluster, of vain and empty conceit. MAPOLY apparently didn’t fall in the sphere of schools that engage in such an act. Consequently, Nigerians don’t give the time of day to anyone who doesn’t court and cultivate their friendship and attention.
It is at this point, that I’ll have to mention some of MERITORIOUS MAPAITES.
I’ll start with my wonderful ‘Egbon Energy', the Energy Editor of the New Telegraph newspaper, ADEOLA YUSUF has bagged the Africa Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC) award in South Africa.
He is the first and only winner of most consistent energy reporter award by the highest body of petroleum experts in Nigeria, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE).
He had his educational training in Mass Communication at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, where he graduated as the School of Communication and General Studies’ overall best student for both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in 2003/2004 academic session.
He has travelled to major countries of the world for conferences, seminar and awards on energy reporting and investigative journalism, including Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, United States; Gulf of Guinea (GOG) conference in London, United Kingdom; and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) function in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Did you know that the present governor of Ogun State, Gov. Ikleel Ibikunle Amosun studied Accounting at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic? Yes, he’s an Alumnus
Similarly, in the early 90’s your darling Funke Akindele otherwise known as Jenifer studied Mass Communication
The ebullient Keke Ogunbe of Kennis Music was bred in Mapoly.
Not forgetting Alhaji Ayinde soaga of NTA, Ganiyu Olowu of Center spread Advertising Agency etc.
A handful of thoroughbred scholars had been bred in MAPOLY, like Drs. Sulaiman Osho, Goke Rauf, Sola Adeosun, Sina Aina and many other scholars like Profs. Idowu Sobowale, Lai Oso, Bayo Oloyede and a host of others who have robust relationship with the school.
It is noteworthy to state it here, that the best graduating student of the department of Performing Arts Theatre, University of Ilorin for the academic session 2015/16, Abiose Lukman is an alumnus of Mapoly.
Cumulatively, at present, I’m a student at the department of English, University of Ilorin. But once a ‘mapaite’, is always a ‘mapaite’. I hold an Ordinary National Diploma in Mass Communication from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in 2012.. Therefore, I can confidently say; MAPOLY remains an epitome of the tripartite: Research, Teaching and Excellence.
I’m Folorunso Fatai Adisa
#ThatMapolyBoy!
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