Lagos — The Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH)'s 'graduation' to a university recently got a boost with the donation of a N50 million 'Sir Michael Otedola ICT Resource Centre' to its Epe campus by the Inter-Continental Bank Nigeria Plc. The Centre, named after the former governor of Lagos state was the next in Intercontinental's long list of support to both public and private tertiary institutions in the country.

Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony, Sir Michael Otedola, recalled how his administration facilitated the establishment of the YABATECH campus in Epe

"What seemed to be impossible by the time we started has now become a reality. We hosted a few council of YABATECH's staff who were asking that the campus be located here in Epe. I sent my team out to shop for vacant sites or buildings that might exist so that we would not have to spend too much money. Eventually I had to plead with the Odoragushin community to be patient so that they can give up their land for YABATECH to come and start their project. We fought a good fight and at the end, we won. Delay is dangerous but can be advantageous."

The Executive Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Segun Ajibola enjoined the school management to take advantage of the centre when it is finally completed to meet the yearnings of education-hungry youths. The banks efforts, he said, was to recognise the contribution of the institution in the area of technology and manpower development of the nation and to thank the management of Zenon Oil and Gas Limited for their business relationship with the bank.

According to him, "One of his (Otedola's) heirs, Mr. Femi Otedola who is the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Zenon Oil, is a business partner of ours and we believe that this is a way of saying thank you for his patronage by honouring his father."

Ajibola said an educated person today without the knowledge of ICT would be like an educated illiterate. "We believe that for an institution of learning, ICT is no-longer a luxury, it is a necessity. So providing a resource centre in a university environment is another way of aiding and encouraging modern day education," he said.

The Rector, Mr. Olubunmi Owoso thanked the bank for its donation and the community for its goodwill. The ICT centre will be sited on a 50 acres of land and is expected to be completed within the next six months. It will take off with the Schools of Marine Studies and Agriculture.