When the news hit the airwaves and the print media on 6th March 2019 that a new female Rector has been appointed for Federal Polytechnic, Oko, by the Federal government through the Federal Ministry of Education it was greeted with mixed feelings, approval, apprehension and cynicism. Even more unexpected was the fact that she came from far flung Kaduna Polytechnic.
Like the proverbial fowl that found itself in a new environment, the new Rector, Engr. Dr. Francisca Unoma Nwafulugo trod carefully on one leg in order to master the polytechnic terrain, her environment, break new grounds and to make an indelible mark on the sands of time in the polytechnic. The Rector in the process confounded her cynics and skeptics that gave her no chance in salvaging the fortunes of the polytechnic.
The Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Engr. Dr. Francisca Unoma Nwafulugo hit the ground running when she assumed office despite all the problems stacked in her way as Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Oko.
The Rector was confronted with the Nnewi – Umunze Trunk A access road within the vicinity of the polytechnic that was impassable and littered with deep pot holes caused by heavy rains that overflowed from the gutters, washing away the road surfaces, leaving behind deep craters & leading to perennial and agonizing traffic-jams.
Through a combined and coordinated efforts of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, (FERMA), Anambra Road Maintenance Agency, (ARMA), Chairman Orumba North L.G.A. Barr. Obinna Ikwueto, Federal Ministry of Works, Abuja and Member representing Orumba North and South in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. (Sir) Dr. Okwudili Ezenwankwo, (Ewepudike), the road was satisfactorily repaired & reconstructed between August and October 2020. The relief of the above to students, staff, host community, businesses and stakeholders cannot be fully quantified.
ACCREDITATION AND REACCREDITATION OF PROGRAMMES IN THE POLYTECHNIC
The Rector, Engr. Dr. Francisca Unoma Nwafulugo in her inaugural address and MISSION STATEMENT to the polytechnic community on 25th March 2019 promised to “…provide quality education to undergraduates and an excellent academic environment, accreditation and reaccreditation of new and existing programmes…” The first litmus test of the mettle bottled up in the Rector came up for display 5 months in office in August 2019. The Rector received an extraordinary horde of National Board For Technical Education, (NBTE) accreditation team officials drawn from various disciplines run in the polytechnics in the country to reaccredit 62 academic programmes run in the polytechnic that have since expired.
The leader of the NBTE reaccreditation team confessed during an interactive session with Management and HODs in the auditorium at the extension site of the polytechnic that NBTE since its inception have never recorded a situation whereby 62 programmes were scheduled to be reaccredited in one fell swoop in one polytechnic.
At the end of the exercise, 96% of the programmes slated for reaccreditation were successful at both the ND & HND level. The above is an uncommon feat for a new Rector.
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERFACE COMMITTEE
The Rector’s avowed promise in her inaugural address to the polytechnic community to trigger a situation that “…will bridge the gap between theory and practice by creating synergy/collaboration with the industries…” was a watershed in itself. The Rector appointed a 9-member Interface Committee in December 2019 with the mandate to identify/attract the right industries to provide the needed skills to students to enrich & add value to the quality of graduates churned out by the polytechnic.
The Committee has reached out to many industries far and wide for a potential mutually beneficial partnership to update and enhance skills of academic staff and students in their various disciplines. The result will soon manifest and reverberate in the polytechnic. It may become a model for other polytechnics in the country. The Interface Committee is domiciled in the office of the Deputy Rector, Dr. Izuchukwu Chris Onu.
INCORPORATING STAKEHOLDERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT STRIDES OF THE POLYTECHNIC
The Rector, Engr. Dr. Francisca Unoma Nwafulugo is inadvertently a beautiful bride. Though 2 years in office, courtesy visits by many groups and organizations to her office has not abated.
The Rector has received scores of awards of excellence already from many professional bodies and organizations expressing their goodwill & approving her accomplishments in such a short time in office. Many are still in the pipeline.
In a bid to familiarize herself with the problems and aspirations of his immediate constituency, the Member representing Orumba North and South in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Dr. (Sir) Okwudili Ezenwankwo, (Ewepudike) with his entourage including the Chairman of Orumba North L.G.A., Barr. Obinna Ikwueto paid a scheduled official visit to the polytechnic in October last year. The Rector took him and his entourage round the extension site of the polytechnic to witness firsthand her stewardship & achievements since assumption of office.
The member, Hon. Dr. (Sir) Okwudili Ezenwankwo, (Ewepudike) was taken aback by the infrastructural development being put in place and promised to cite one of his 2021 constituency projects at the extension site to complement the quiet, uncommon but enormous development strides of the Rector at the site.
Just 2 years in office the Rector was able to construct the following at the extension site, the main campus and Ufuma campus;
(a) Deans complex
(b) School of General Studies
(c) Renewable Energy building
(d) 1.23 kilometre road
(e) Food Technology Laboratory (under construction)
(f) Works Directorate office complex
(g) Agricultural Engineering complex
(h) Chemical Engineering complex consisting of lecture halls, offices and laboratory (under construction)
(i) ICT Building
(j) Polytechnic table water factory
(k) Security building at Ufuma campus
(l) Solar powered hand washing machine
MOUNTING OF NEW PROGRAMMES
The Rector in fulfillment of her promise during her inauguration on 25th March 2019 to establish new programmes in the polytechnic has mounted new and strategic programmes that are currently awaiting resource inspection by the polytechnic regulatory body, the NBTE. These are;
(a) Horticultural Technology
(b) Mechatronics Engineering Technology
(c) Geological Technology
Other new departments to be mounted are at various stages of incubation. The above courses when accredited will enrich and raise the programmes run by the polytechnic. It will also increase choices for students seeking admission to the polytechnic and avail them of new opportunities to reach their full potentials in life.
STAFF WELFARE
The Rector ensured that the promotion arrears of 2018 were promptly paid to deserving academic & non-academic staff.
She has also effected 2020 promotions, upgraded/converted over 195 staff of the polytechnic from one cadre or the other. In her quest to improve the working condition of staff, the Rector has revamped and furnished some dilapidated offices like the Result Printing and Computing Unit as well as Students Records & Statistics. Staff of these units are now motivated more than ever before to give their best. Other offices will in due time receive such turn around maintenance.
In addition, the Rector facilitated an International Computer Training Program in which over 100 staff both teaching and non-teaching participated. Highlight of the training was handing over of personal computers to all the participants. All this and more has endeared the Rector to staff of the polytechnic and unions on campus; ASUP, SSANIP and NASU.
STUDENTS WELFARE
The Rector has immense regards for students of the polytechnic. She stated the above in her maiden inaugural address on 25th March 2019. The welfare of students was paramount to the success of her administration because without them the polytechnic will not be in existence. She commissioned a multipurpose Students Union Government (SUG) building earlier this year with recreational facilities that will promote the yearnings & aspirations of students. The above and other noble actions endeared her to students.
One of the greatest achievements of the Rector is the presence of enduring peace in the polytechnic & between the host community and other stakeholders of the polytechnic.
Federal Polytechnic Oko has never had it so good.
The Rector’s achievements academically and administratively in the last two years is immense and cannot be fully quantified, articulated and condensed on paper.
The hood does not make the monk. Establishing and sustaining academic standards is the stuff tertiary institutions are made of. The Rector has set very high standards of discipline, transparency, probity and academic excellence for her administration in Federal Polytechnic, Oko. She has broken new grounds and made fundamental impact in her two years in office. It is expected that the tempo will be sustained in her remaining 3 years in office. It is expected that her transformation agenda will rub-off on both staff and students of the polytechnic.
Chijioke Ibeziako, is the Public Relations Officer, Federal Polytechnic, Oko