Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) and the Department of State Services (DSS), in a deliberate move to protect lives and properties in the foremost tertiary institution, have agreed to close ranks at securing the college.
This manifested during a courtesy visit paid by the Rector, Yabatech, Dr. Engr. Ibraheem Abdul and other college principal officers to the new State Director, Department, State Services, Adedapo Amao and his management team.
Dr. Abdul, in his address, sought the cooperation of the State Service in securing lives and properties in the wake of some security challenges confronting the college and defiling her existing security apparatus.
He enumerated the security challenges ranging from hackers, scamming/duping parents of students on school fees, cultism evolvement and the impersonation of authorities in perpetrating crimes.
The rector, Yaba College of Technology earlier expressed the unity amongst the college principal officers, the peaceful co-existence with college stakeholders, and her robust community relations, which have portrayed the institution in a good light.
He said his administration has a work plan, currently being implemented, for running a smooth, five-year undisrupted academic calendar where students have assurance of the date of graduation when admitted as best global practice.
He lamented the nefarious moves of the external forces in thwarting the prevailing peace and unity of the tertiary institution, which has formed the crux of seeking the cooperation and assistance of the Department of State Services.
The Rector submitted that with the support and expertise of the DSS, the college could move forward to attain her mandate, strongly believing in the mission of the DSS to protect and defend the Federal Republic of Nigeria against domestic threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal laws of Nigeria, and to provide leadership and criminal justice services to both federal and state law-enforcement organs.
In his response, the new director, Department of State Services, Adedapo Amao, assured the management of Yaba College of Technology of the support, cooperation, and partnership from the DSS in securing lives and properties in the college.
He advised the college authority to wholistically assess the porosity of the college, identify the fraudulent elements, share proactive intelligence information with the DSS, and be firm in the face of adversity for crime to be curbed in the institution.
Amao said it is a major concern to us of this menace in institutions of higher learning all over the country, time are changing and gone are the days where cultism is seen as a thing of pride; adding that all hands must be on deck as the department is working on it.
Present at the event were the Assistant Director, Security Enforcement, Sikiru Balogun; the Assistant Director, Administration and Logistics, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Akinlayo; the Assistant Director, Operations, Sheu Sheu and the Assistant Director, Vetting, Aduke Ogbe.
Others from Yaba College of Technology were Deputy Rector, Administration, Uduak Iyang Udoh; Acting Registrar, Dr. Emmanuel Akinwale, Personal Assistant to the Rector, Mrs. Henrietta Badejo and Deputy Registrar, Centre for Information Communication and Public Relations, Adekunle Adams.
