The monarch was speaking on Wednesday when he led a delegation of Owo community on a thank-you visit to Governor Mimiko in his office in Akure. On the Olowo's entourage were the Asuada of Isuada, Oba Rufus Aladetanye, a member of the State House of Assembly from Owo, Hon. Olatunji Dairo, Chief Imam of Owo, Alhaji Ahmed Aladesawe, the Caretaker Chairman of Owo LGA, Tunde Fadimbola and the Rector of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun among others.
He emphasised the infrastructural deficiencies of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo before the assumption of office of Governor Mimiko, saying that it had undergone unprecedented transformations which had changed its old status to a world-class institution in terms of provision of infrastructure, quality of staff and uninterrupted academic calender among others.
The monarch added that the entire Owo township had also witnessed transformation which had turned it to a modern city through road dualisation and other road furniture provided by the Mimiko-led administration.
Oba Olagbegi, who submitted that all the projects were people-oriented and unprecedented in the history of the town, said the projects will remain indelible in hearts of his people.
"I am impressed by what the Ondo State Government has done in recent times. The last time I visited (the Polytechnic) was shortly after my enthronement and I must confess, not much was there to be showcased.
But on my recent visit, I saw massive development and interventions that are worthy of commendation. I must say you have done well," the Olowo said.
Speaking further, Oba Olagbegi said the Federal Government, the Polytechnic community and indeed all stakeholders in the institution must also be commended for the new vista that has been opened in the polytechnic.
Corroborating the monarch, the Rector of RUGIPO, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun and Caretaker Chairman of Owo LGA, Tunde Fadimbola, noted that the people of the town and members of the polytechnic community would never forget the dividends of democracy brought to them by the present government in the State.
Governor Mimiko in his remark thanked the team for the visit. He congratulated the Owo community and indeed the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic on the recent rating of the Polytechnic as the best in the country.
He said this is good news in an era when the Adekunle Ajasin University got ranked as the best State owned university in the country.
Mimiko expressed delight that both the state owned Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko and the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo had been adjudged the best state institutions in the country by the Transparency International in the United States of America.
He said the successes recorded by the institution is a result of deliberate injection of funds, in a quantum that had no precedence in the history of the polytechnic, and the professional imprint of the first class Rector.
Governor Mimiko thanked the community for appreciating his government's developmental efforts in Owo community and the polytechnic in particular.
The Governor, who reminded his guests of the historical importance of Owo in the revolutionary policy of free education of the Awolowo era,
also recalled the role of the historical town in the NADECO days and the struggle to validate the June 12, 1993 election and the eventual emergence of General Olusegun Obasanjo as President.
He said the struggle in a way also resulted in the emergence of a minority of the minority as president in President Goodluck Jonathan.
Thanks
