Kwara Governor Appoints American as Pioneer IVTEC Rector

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

An American named Dr Wendy Kay Daeges has been appointed by the Kwara State Governor, Mr Abdulfatah Ahmed, as the pioneer Rector of the International Vocational, Training and Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC) in Ajase-Ipo area of the state.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Mr Musa Yeketi, disclosed that Mr Femi Josiah Olabisi was also appointed as the College Registrar.

According to the statement, Saadat Iqbal was named by the Governor as IT System Manager; Mr Olatunde Timothy Fadipe as Instructor and Head of Automative, and Mr Tokunbo Femi Olayinka as Instructor and Head of Welding.

Others, according to the Commissioner, are Mr Tajudeen Shina Agboola, Instructor and Head of Masonry & Carpentry; Mr Immanuel Martin Nwafor, Instructor and Head of Electrical; and Babatunde Olayinka, Instructor and Head of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

The Commissioner pointed out that the appointments were made by the Governor in keeping with the government’s pledge to commence operations at the college in the first quarter of 2017.

He said the new appointees are to resume this month, starting and with a one-week orientation programme.

The new Rector, Mrs Wendy Daeges has over 20 years of senior management level experience in higher education spanning four countries: Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, United States and South Korea.

She holds Bachelor of Science and Master Degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies from Oregon State University, and recently bagged her doctorate degree in Transformational Studies from California Institute of Integrated Studies, United States. Prior to her appointment, she served as the Executive Director of a Vocational College in Saudi Arabia.

IVTEC Registrar designate, Mr Femi Olabisi had his first and second degrees from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.

Until his appointment, he was the Registrar of the College of Education, Ilemona, Kwara State. Olabisi was a facilitator/Instructor with National Open University of Nigeria and was also the Secretary to the Implementation and Planning Committee (IPC) for the proposed University of Offa, Kwara State.

Also, Mr Saadat Iqbal, who will serve as the College’s IT System Manager is a seasoned IT professional and has worked with different higher educational institutions in Pakistan, where he provided his expertise in IT services, along with experience of teaching core Computer Science courses.