By Adebayo Olodan
After few weeks of disappearance from public radar, the Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Engr Musa Ayinla Yeketi surprisingly resurfaced, last Thursday, this time on crutches.
For some time, not much has been heard of the whereabout of the commissioner with top officials of the ministry representing him at public functions.
Initially, there was presumption that Yeketi travelled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on holy pilgrimage but the speculations faded as soon as the last batch of pilgrims returned to the country. News later went round that the commissioner may have been battling health challenges hence the reason for his long stay away from office.
Some residents of the state also alleged that the helmsman of the education ministry had been hospitalised following his awkward fall in office.
Yeketi, was however sighted last Thursday at International Vocational, Technical and Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC), Ajase-Ipo in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state following the completion of installation of equipment and tools at the college.
The development was however a relief to his friends, admirers and staff of the ministry.
The Commissioner accompanied the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed to inspect equipment and providing details of the apparatus to his principal.
While inspecting the facilities, Yeketi, who has been adjudged one of the most hardworking commissioners in the state, phoned in during a radio programme of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), debunked the claim of been bedridden for a while.
When the presenter of the Yoruba programme asked the commissioner about the rumour of him falling in office, Yeketi said, “There was no iota of truth in such report, the rumour may have emanated from mischief makers.
“As I am speaking to you, I am at Ajase-Ipo inspecting the newly installed equipment of the International Vocational, Technical and Entrepreneurship College. If I was bedridden or had fallen in the office as alleged by those mischief makers, how come I am in Ajase-Ipo at the moment?,” he queried.
However, efforts to get the commissioner last night, to speak on his state of health proved abortive as he refused to attend to his calls and text messages sent to him were not replied as at the time of filing this report.
Recall that Yeketi, was last Thursday quoted to have said IVTEC was ready for commissioning, adding that the modern equipment and tools installed at the college are for the five pioneering departments of the institution.
According to him, the departments are Masonry and Carpentry, Automotive, Electrical and Electronics, Welding, as well as Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning.
He also disclosed that the State government is partnering with the World Bank under its Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) programme to sponsor first set of students of IVTEC.
According to him, the partnership is to allow interested youths from less privileged families to have access to training at the college and that the prospective beneficiaries will be selected across the 16 local government areas of the state as contained in the YESSO database.
He explained that the World Bank representative, Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa and the YESSO Task Team leader had early this month visited IVTEC to evaluate and consider possible areas of partnership with the college.
Yeketi also said that the College has completed the construction of a police post to ensure the safety of staff, students and facilities.
