ABUAD’s Vice-Chancellor calls for Stronger Global Partnerships to Boost SIWES

• Prof. Olarinde calls on ITF to leverage Nigeria–China ties for students’ industrial training

The Vice-Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Prof. E. Smaranda Olarinde, FCArb, FCAI, has called for stronger international collaborations and partnerships to enhance the training, development, and expertise of Nigerian students.

She made the call on Thursday, September 18, 2025, while addressing participants at the 3^rd Zonal Quarterly Meeting of SIWES Directors and Coordinators in Ondo and Ekiti States. This event took place at Owolabi Hall, ABUAD, under the professional expertise of ITF.

Prof. Olarinde urged the ITF to take advantage of Nigeria’s strategic ties with China, noting that ABUAD already partners with no fewer than five top Chinese institutions too.

“We are doing our best as an institution with growing international partnerships. In China alone, we are partnering with five tertiary institutions, and we are still counting. The ITF can take a leaf from this, leveraging Nigeria’s strong ties with China to groom students for the increasingly demanding global competitive market,” she said.

While commending the ITF Akure Area Office for sustaining the tempo of SIWES activities, the Vice-Chancellor further stressed the need for collective resolve, stating that:

“As stakeholders gathered here today, let us resolve to strengthen this scheme so that every Nigerian student who passes through SIWES emerges more skilled with increased competence, more employable, to bring about more needed contributions to national and international development.”

In his goodwill message, the ITF Area Manager, Alhaji Suleman Rauf, represented by Mrs. Grace Ajagbe, Head of Training, ITF Akure Area Office, praised ABUAD management for its consistent support, describing the university’s staff as “worthy ambassadors.”

ABUAD’s SIWES Coordinator, Dr. Oluwaseun Ogungbemi, MSEG, MSPE, also lauded the Founder and Vice-Chancellor for their steadfast backing, describing the meeting as a vital platform to share ideas and strengthen SIWES programmes across Ondo and Ekiti States.

“Ma, we are encouraged by your commitment to staff and student development, particularly your prompt approval of our budgets and your consistent attention to all our requests. We assure you of our dedication to delivering on every assignment entrusted to us,” he affirmed.

Also in attendance were ABUAD’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Christopher Aina, and the Provost of the College of Sciences, Prof. Pius Okiki. As the third edition in the series, the event featured engaging sessions tailored for SIWES Directors and Coordinators from participating institutions across Ondo and Ekiti States, all under the supervision of ITF officials.