••• Rector Applauds Governor AbdulRahman for Providing Support
The HND 2 students of the Department of Mass Communication, Kwara State Polytechnic, have demonstrated a strong commitment to community development through their fieldwork under the course “Development Communication” as part of their efforts to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life situations.
The initiative saw the students deployed to various communities to research pressing societal issues and provide communication-driven solutions to some of the identified challenges.
The students visited different communities, where they engaged in hands-on interventions, awareness campaigns, and wrote advocacy letters to relevant government agencies on behalf of the residents.
In Sango Community, Ilorin South Local Government, the students conducted an environmental sanitation exercise and distributed writing materials to public school pupils to encourage academic engagement.
In Agbede Community, Ilorin East Local Government, the students launched a campaign against environmental degradation and unhygienic practices. The team also wrote to the Ministry of Environment, requesting the provision of an incinerator to sustain clean environmental practices. Additionally, they drew the attention of the Ministry of Water Resources to the community’s water challenges, and in response, the ministry sent delegates to assess the area for potential pipe extensions.
In Yakuba Community, Ilorin East Local Government, the students’ intervention led to a formal request to the Ministry of Education for the roofing of a dilapidated public school building.
In Ganiki Community, Ilorin South Local Government, students carried out a sensitization campaign emphasizing the importance of education and maintaining a clean environment. The team also donated a solar street light for surveillance security of the community.
In Elekoyangan Community, Ilorin East, the intervention focused on infrastructure, with the students submitting a request to the Ministry of Works and Ministry of energy for the rehabilitation of the community’s deteriorating road network and restoration of Electricity in the area.
Furthermore, the students in Oke Ose Community, Ilorin East, donated academic materials, including desks and chairs, to support teaching and learning conditions in public schools.
In Oyun Community, Ilorin East, the intervention focused on infrastructure, with the students submitting a request to the Ministry of Works for the rehabilitation of the community’s deteriorating road network.
However, Lajolo Community, Ilorin East, also received attention through a formal appeal to the Ministry of Education for the provision of academic resources to support learning among pupils.
Commending the students’ efforts and Lecturer, the Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic, Engr. Dr. Abdul Jimoh Muhammed, praised the students for utilizing the platform to gain practical experience in their field of study and professionalism displayed by the course lecturer, Mr. Olufadi Balarabe Ayuba. “This outreach reflects the core of development communication and shows how students can actively support the state government under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq,” he stated.
In his remarks, Hon. Salami Wasiu Onidugbé, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Students’ Affairs, lauded the initiative as a true reflection of development communication. “Your engagement with communities such as Oke Ose, Agbede, Ganiki, Sango, and others is not just commendable — it reflects the very essence of what development communication should be — using communication as a tool for social change, community development, and government engagement.”
He further applauded the students for bridging the gap between the government and the people, noting that their work has served as a crucial link to amplify the voices of rural communities often disconnected from public institutions.
The Head of Department, Mr. Olohungbebe Fatiu, expressed pride in the students’ performance during a presentation of their field reports. He also commended the course lecturer, Mr. Olufadi Balarabe Ayuba, for his dedication to equipping students with practical knowledge. He appreciated the polytechnic management under the leadership of the rector, Engr. Dr. Abdul Jimoh Muhammad for the timely support.
Olohungbebe said the projects and interventions in various communities are a shining example of academia meeting real-world impact, demonstrating how communication students can be powerful agents of social transformation.