The management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State, has unveiled plans for its 15th combined convocation ceremony, where notable Nigerian figures including former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, and Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will be honoured. The event is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at the polytechnic’s main campus.
Announcing the ceremony at a press briefing, the Rector of MAPOLY, Arc. Dr. Babatunde Adekoyejo Jolaoso, described the convocation as a milestone in the institution’s history. According to him, the ceremony will witness the awarding of National Diplomas (ND) and Higher National Diplomas (HND) to over 51,000 graduates who completed their programmes between the 2015/2016 and 2023/2024 academic sessions. These graduands span both full-time and part-time programmes across multiple faculties and disciplines.
Highlighting the significance of the honours, Dr. Jolaoso stated that Chief Osoba will be conferred with the MAPOLY Honorary Fellowship Award for his impactful contributions to education, national growth, and industrial development. Osoba, a respected elder statesman and journalist, is widely regarded for his commitment to public service and development in Ogun State and beyond.
Also to be honoured is Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, recognised for her work on the SDGs and her advocacy for inclusive development across Nigeria. Alongside her, High Chief Tosin Owolabi Fadare will also receive an Honorary Fellowship Award for his distinguished record of service in philanthropy and community development.
In addition to these honorary recognitions, the polytechnic will present an Award of Excellence to Aare Adetola Emmanuel-King, Chairman of Adron Homes and Properties Ltd., and Prince Shamsudeen Apelogun, National President of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACCOMORAN), for their individual and collective contributions to economic empowerment and youth development.
Dr. Jolaoso emphasized that the convocation ceremony will also reward academic excellence, with prizes slated for outstanding graduates from various departments. He described the event as not only a celebration of achievements but also an opportunity to project MAPOLY’s renewed vision of academic excellence and innovation.
“This convocation is historic. It is the first since the 2014/2015 academic session, and it symbolizes a turning point in our commitment to rebuilding and rebranding the institution. With over 51,000 graduands, MAPOLY is affirming its relevance as a key player in Nigeria’s technical and vocational education landscape,” he said.
Since his assumption of office six months ago, Dr. Jolaoso noted that his administration has focused on reviving institutional integrity through a restructured academic calendar, infrastructural upgrades, and improved stakeholder engagement. He expressed optimism about MAPOLY’s trajectory, noting that the institution is on the path to becoming a model for polytechnic education in Nigeria.
A major highlight of the convocation activities is the lecture titled “Diaspora Perspective and the Influence of STEM in the Globalised World of Today”, to be delivered by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM). The lecture, which will take place at the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Hall, is expected to provoke robust conversations on how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) can shape Nigeria’s future through global engagement.
Founded in 1979, MAPOLY has long been a cradle for innovation and manpower development in Ogun State and Nigeria at large. With this combined convocation, the institution seeks to reaffirm its legacy while setting new benchmarks for the future.
