Gov. Ahmed confirms Somide as IVTEC Rector

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has confirmed Dr. Ade Somide as the substantive rector of the International Vocational, Technical and Entrepreneurship College, Ajase-Ipo.

The confirmation was contained in a statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Communication, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, in Ilorin on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the new IVTEC rector took over as the acting rector of the college after Wendy Daeges, the pioneer rector, resigned her appointment in 2017 following the demise her father.

The new Rector, Dr. Somide, has over 25 years in public sector governance and higher education.

He earned his Ph.D. in Political Science (Comparative and International Relations) from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, State University of New York at Albany, having earlier earned an M.A. in Government (1987) from Eastern Kentucky University and B.A. in Political Science (1986) from Berea College, Berea, Kentucky.

Before his appointment, Somide was Director for Budget Policy and Analysis for the State University of New York, the largest public higher education system in the United States with 64 campuses and an annual all-funds budget of more than $15 billion.

There, he provided policy guidance in financial management practices and academic/administrative policies and procedures, which resulted in system-wide operational efficiency and accountability, as well as significant improvement in student services and success rates.

Somide was also Deputy Director for Higher Education with the New York State Legislature, where for over 10 years he successfully delivered innovative programmes for New York State higher education sector and participated in Executive-Legislative negotiations of annual state budgets.

In this role according to the statement, Dr. Somide developed state-wide programs in economic development, technology workforce development, higher education-industry, and higher education-government partnerships.

He has published numerous issue briefs and other types of analyses related to higher education law, policy and finance.

Akorede described Somide as an international development consultant and has participated in capacity building projects in Nigeria and several African countries.

Some has also held teaching appointments as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Africana Studies and the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy both at the State University of New York, and at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York.