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Acting Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, Dr. Chukwugekwu Ubaka has expressed worry over daunting challenges facing the institution which he linked to certain principal officers of the institution.
He said it was more painful that those behind the problems were products of the institution, wondering why they would agree to connive with the externals to destroy the fingers that fed them.
Ubaka spoke on Friday in Awka at the second General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Annual Lecture series, themed, “Challenges and Crisis in Polytechnic Administration in Nigeria: The Interplay of Supervisory Bodies, Governing Councils, Management, and Alumni.”
He however expressed joy that most of the challenges were being addressed within his four months old administration despite financial constraints.
He recalled his meeting with Chairman of the Governing Council, Sen. Barnabas Gemade shortly after his appointment to head the institution, and his request to him to ensure peace reigned in the institution.
“I stretched my hand and bowed before him, saying, I speak peace, together we’ll grant and deliver peace to Oko. I also told him that it won’t be easy because we’re going to step on some persons toes, but we shall do it, and that we’re already doing.
“Truth is that the Polytechnic you and I belong to and came out from, some of the problems there were configured by some principal officers of the Polytechnic, but God is helping us to dismantle them and they shall be completely dismantled.
“The Governing Council is ready for smooth sale to restore peace, love, unity, progress and sense of purpose and direction of the environment we study.
“It pains me that some of us who are products of the institution connive with the externals to destroy the place you read. Why do you join the waves whose interest is essentially how to grab it.
“Those who walk with high shoulders, insisting it must be them, where are they now? Those who build filling stations, extorted students and prospective employees of the Polytechnic, where are they now? Whatever a man sows, he reaps,” he stated.
The Rector listed numerous achievements recorded within his reign to include restoration of sanity and creation of befitting environment deserving of an educational institution.
“To God’s glory, peace, love, unity of purpose and progress is taking place in our school once again. We repositioned hawkers and business merchants who hitherto littered the school with their wares posing serious dangers to wholesome academic learning.
“We’ve streamlined the multiple fees payable by students in the school. We also granted special amnesty examination to enable students who had overstayed to graduate. Affected students trooped out to avail themselves of this opportunity in the last semester examination period,” he added.
Earlier, National President, Federal Polytechnic Oko Alumni Association Nze Henry Chukwuka Nnebe pledged the association commitment to confront inequality, nepotism, corruption, abuse of office, hiring of unqualified personnel, neglect of established rules, financial crisis and favoritism pervading Nigeria’s educational institutions.
He regretted that the listed vices had become entrenched in the administration of educational institutions across the country, of which the Federal Polytechnic Oko was not left out.
He however said discussants at the lecture series, as well as leaders of various bodies or organs involved in polytechnic administration, would chart way forward to restore order and enable the revival of educational standards in Nigeria.
He said, “The standard of education in our country has been on a decline, deviating from the mission and vision established by the founders of such institutions.
“The New Plan for Nigerian Education Development owes much to the combined visionary efforts of the Ministry of Education, supervisory bodies, governing councils, management, and alumni, all of whom share the responsibility of improving and sustaining the institutions that educated them.
“The Federal Polytechnic Oko Alumni is thus acting as a vital catalyst for the development of her alma mater. As General IBB aptly stated, “A society that does not correctly interpret and appreciate its past cannot understand its present fortunes and adversities and can be caught unawares in a fast-changing world.”
“Today, the Alumni is leveraging its corporate position to engage experts and resource persons in brainstorming to find lasting solutions to the administrative chaos plaguing Nigerian polytechnics.”
Describing the theme of the lecture as highly relevant, Nnebe said the body was fortunate to have Prof. Ugochukwu Nzewi, former Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko and former Vice Chancellor of Paul University Awka to address the challenges in his paper presentation.
He appreciated other illustrious discussants, including Prof. Idris Bugaje (NBTE Executive Secretary), Dr. Ejeh Usman (Director of Polytechnic Education), Sen. Barnabas Gemade (Chairman, Committee of Federal Polytechnic Governing Council Chairmen), Dr. Babangida Albaba (Chairman of the Council of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technologies in Nigeria), and our own Rt. Hon. Abba Anas Adamu (National President, Forum of Nigeria Polytechnics Alumni Association).
The event witnessed presentation of awards of Heroes, Iconic Ambassador, Ambassadors to deserving personalities.
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