The Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Professor Salisu Usman Ogbo, has disclosed that 30 programmes were presented to the National Board for Technical Education NBTE and all were returned with full accreditation.
Professor Ogbo, made the disclosure while receiving in audience, members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kogi state council on his elevation to the rank of full professor, renewal of his appointment, and the demise of his brother.
He explained that on assumption of office in April 2020, he hit the ground running by initiating strategies to tackle the hydra-headed challenges that have impeded the growth of the institution, and ensured that both human and material resources were adequately mobilised for the task.
According to him, the school was faced with high-level cultism; general insecurity on the campuses, nonfunctional hostels, compulsory sales of handouts and textbooks; low morale of lecturers and students, and inadequate infrastructures which hitherto affected the delivery of quality education.
He said, he has to set the ball rolling, by inaugurating different committees and giving matching orders to rescue the institution from further decay and restore the lost glory to the intent and purpose of the founding fathers.
He added that to achieve these laudable objectives, toes of some deviants must be stepped while those who buy into the new thinking would be supported for optimal performance.
He disclosed that the reforms, with his close monitoring, have brought transformations in terms of physical projects donning the entire landscape of the campuses and restoration of confidence in academic outputs of the institution.
According to Professor Ogbo, before he came onboard, the institution was regarded as a mere glorified secondary school with the certificates considered to be worthless by some employers and citizenry.
He added that for over five years, the school had no functional hostels which made both male and female students cohabit outside the campus with its attendant economic and social dislocations.
He said with the express approval of the government and the council, a bank loan was obtained while direct labour, using lecturers in-built departments and Management staff to drive the project with successful completion of the projects in record time.
Speaking further, he noted that the vexed issue of sales of handouts and textbooks which has been negatively affecting indigent students was banned and criminalized with some deviant members of staff being sanctioned.
He added, that the institution was notorious for cultist and cultist activities which had portrayed the school in a bad light, hence, he had to step up security architecture around the campuses through regular review of strategies which paid off with the institution now free from the monster.
According to him, it had been problematic for the polytechnic community during examination periods as cultists would brazenly attack students and perceived enemies, saying, the security architecture has been proactive in arresting the menace, restoring sanity to the institution.
He promised to scale up plans, programmes and strategies that will make the institution a leading brand in the global competitive educational sector.
According to him, he was able to conduct a combined convocation that spanned from 2010 to 2023, a feat he alluded to the confidence, the former Governor and the Council reposed on the management.
He said to get value for money, he compelled contractors handling TETFUND projects in the school to comply with specifications in the bill of quantity or face sanctions, given rise to timely completion of all TETFUND projects, while he recalled some contractors back to site after over sixteen years of abandonment.
He, however, assured lecturers, staff, and students of his commitment to improve the working conditions, welfare, and well-being, and called on the stakeholders to work in synergy to increase internally generated revenue.
He also mentioned that he would prioritise and enhance conducive environment for welfare of staff and students to drive the vision to achieve the objectives of the institution.
He commended the former Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for giving him opportunity to serve despite mounting opposition, and thanked incumbent Governor Ododo for maximum support for the school which has transformed the institution into a citadel of learning.
He expressed his gratitude to his former employer Prince Abubakar Audu University Anyigba for the conferment of Associate Professor and Federal University Lokoja, for the confirmation of full professorship on him.
While thanking the Correspondents members for the visit, noted that their constant appraisal of his administration has kept him on his toes, assuring continued collaboration for upliftment of the society.
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