At a glance
The college recently hosted representatives from a Nigerian school who came to Alfred to discuss best practices for running a successful technical college.
Alfred State’s reputation for hands-on training and job-ready graduates is attracting international attention, and is now identified as a model for building a new college half a world away. Alfred State recently hosted representatives from a Nigerian school who came to Alfred to discuss best practices for running a successful technical college.
Visitors from Nigeria’s Kwara State Government and the International Vocational Technical & Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC) in Ajasse Ipo came to discuss a partnership and to see how well suited Alfred State is for meeting their goals.
Dr. Skip Sullivan, president of Alfred State, noted that the interest in forming a partnership came about when the college was contacted by representatives working with IVTEC and Kwara State. Through emails, conference calls, and conversations, that initial interest developed even further.
“I think the meetings have gone very well,” Sullivan said. “Executive Governor Ahmed is a very gracious man and we’re delighted he and his team chose to spend some time with us in developing this Memorandum of Understanding. This is a creative opportunity for Kwara State to lead Nigeria in a new way of doing vocational and occupational education, and Alfred State is pleased to be a partner in that.”
Both Sullivan and Abdulfatah Ahmed, executive governor of Kwara State, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a plan that would allow IVTEC faculty to visit Alfred State to shadow and work alongside its faculty for at least one full semester. The plan would further allow three IVTEC administrators to spend a semester at Alfred State to learn processes and administrative structure to help determine and define the needs of IVTEC.
Ahmed said he and the other visitors were happy with what they saw on their tours of both campuses in Alfred and Wellsville, especially in their particular areas of interest, including technology, construction, and automotive trades.
“I foresee a very strong relationship with Alfred State because we believe it’s truly going to blossom into levels where this type of training and technology will be given the right footing in Nigeria,” he said. “Most importantly, they will help us see how we can truly set up entrepreneurship in Nigeria to help fit into today’s economy.”
Among those who made the trip to the Southern Tier were Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed, executive governor of Kwara State; Yomi Ogunsola, chief economic assistant to the governor and director general of Kwara Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Bureau (acting as IVTEC project supervisor); Mosunmola Bello-Sha’aba, assistant director of Kwara PPP Bureau (acting as IVTEC project manager); Dr. Ade Somide, CEO BET, acting as IVTEC project consultant; Kayode Adeyemi, SSA Government House head of Protocol; and Gbolahan Oseni, member of Protocol.
Kwara State, according to its website, www.kwarastate.gov.ng is known as “The State of Harmony” because of the peaceful relations that exist among its multicultural and diverse population of about 2.5 million people. Created in May 1967, Kwara State is one of the 36 states that make up the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country.
According to information on the Kwara State PPP Bureau’s website, www.kwarappp.gov.ng/ivtec, IVTEC is a vocational and technical college, with aims to train and raise not just technically sound artisans, but entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to build businesses that would contribute to the development of the economy of the nation of Nigeria.
Provost Dr. Kristin Poppo noted that Alfred State uses applied learning to prepare exceptional professionals in the trades, and that such experts are in demand around the world.
“We look forward to working with Kwara State in Nigeria to open a technical college where young Nigerians can learn building trades, automotive technology, electrical trades, and welding through excellent instruction and hands-on learning,” she said. “Bringing Nigerian instructors and administrators to Alfred State will ensure that this new school offers our same level of excellent instruction recognized by employers throughout the United States and now drawing attention internationally.”
Pictured at the table during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding are Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed, executive governor of Kwara State, left, and Dr. Skip Sullivan, president of Alfred State. In the second row, from left to right, are Yomi Ogunsola, chief economic assistant to the governor and director general of the Kwara Public-Private Partnership Bureau; along with Patricia K. Fogarty, Alfred State College Council chair.