The Rector, Dr. Chioma Irene Awuzie has pledged not to victimize or witch-hunt any staff or student, assuring the polytechnic community that victimization and witch-hunting would be a thing of the past in the institution as she would ensure square pegs were put in square holes. Dr. Awuzie gave the assurance at the Convocation Arena of the institution during interactive session between the 12th Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic Oko and the Polytechnic Community.
She emphasized that her administration will be guided by the Polytechnic Act and rules, promising to prioritize academic excellence and accelerate action that will make the institution one of the best in the world. She also promised to create a conducive environment for skills empowerment necessary for academic excellence. She thanked the chairman and members of the Governing Council of the institution for their determination to restore peace in the school, noting that the interactive session was targeted at fostering and strengthening bond between management, staff and students even as she called for constructive engagement and ideas geared towards moving the institution forward.
The Rector, Dr. Chioma Awuzie used the opportunity to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Federal Ministry of Education, Senator Banabas Gemade-led Governing Council for considering her worthy for the appointment and promised to abide by the Polytechnic Acts and extant laws while delivering on her mandate.“I want to thank Mr. President for believing in merit, fairness, transparency and equity. I thank the 12th Governing Council of our Polytechnic for the fear of God in them and for standing by the truth. I promise not to disappoint you. My administration will ensure the round pegs for the round holes.
She said her administration has immediately set the ball in motion by embarking on some projects including earmarking portions of land for Polytechnic farms where poultry, piggery, fowls, fish and other animals would be reared, foundation laying stone of security post at the Permanent site, touring of all the departments in the institution to get first hand information on their needs and challenges, commercializing school of Fine and Applied Arts, Entrepreneurship Center, printing press and reviving of Polytechnic bakery and bottle water ventures.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the 12th Council of the Polytechnic, Sen. Dr. Banabas Germade restated the commitment of council members to instilling discipline and order among staff and students of the institution. He warned against cases of gossip and rumour mongering peddled by some staff of the Polytechnic, saying that such vices would no longer be tolerated in the institution.“We discover people are quick to say something about someone which most times are untrue and hardly weighed. Our ears are full but our actions are slow. “This is because the Council is made up of men and women of great experience who don’t jump into speculations; any garbage that enters our ears will be received with condemnation.
“In this Council we have a policy, which is that discipline will be enshrined in Fed Poly Oko. “Part of our duties as a Council is general supervision of the Polytechnic affairs, with quarterly meetings to deal with issues, including budget approvals, conflict resolutions, among others. We will also attempt to build renewed harmony which is hinged on discipline. I’m happy to say that after about 8-months, the reports I’m getting from staff and students is encouraging. “We will be governed by documents and extant laws of the institution and not by the whims and caprices of our minds. We’ll be taking cue directly from the Polytechnic Acts, including Public Procurement, Fiscal Responsibility Acts, Public Service Rules and Financial Regulations of federal government.
“I am happy to say that we’ve been strictly abiding by the laws. We will be carrying out pending issues on our tables, including appointments, regularization, discipline and that will commence immediately.“More importantly, we promised to produce an internally developed, manufactured Rector. I’m happy that we kept to the promise.
“Going forward, we promise to continue in that direction. We’ll ensure teaching activities become stronger, while needed facilities will be available and of better quality in spite of economic hardship.“Connectivity of activities of our four campuses remains a challenge. We will ensure activities in Ufuma campus is stepped up and becomes more vibrant and active. While restating the Council’s preparedness to attract additional funding for improved and efficient operations in the institution, the chairman urged the management to take advantage of the funds to better the lots of the Polytechnic.
He highlighted N100billion federal government funds for agricultural training and production as well as improvement of electricity and alternative power supply being managed by Education Ministry and Rural Electrification Agency for federal government institutions, respectively.“We’ll approach Federal Ministry of Education to see that whatever available interventions in areas of technical training and support comes to Oko as quickly as possible.“We’ll remain resolute in completing our assignments within our tenure. We’ll ensure sustenance and conclusion of our promises, including making substantive all staff in acting capacities.“We are yet to commence work in the area of disciplinary actions. But we have charged our audit committee to look into affairs of budget office and bursary.
In their contributions and goodwill messages, the union leaders in the polytechnic, ASUP chairman, Barr. Fidelis Odua, SSANIP chairman, Comrade Innocent Okeke, SSAUTHRIAI chairman, Comrade Ezeokonkwo Marbel, and NASU chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Okolie commended the 12th Governing Council for given the polytechnic an internally generated Rector while assuring the Rector, Dr. Chioma Awuzie of their support throughout her tenure.
While the President, Students Union Government, Comrade Odumegwu Emmanuel acknowledged the immediate impact of the new Rector, including addressing administrative and academic challenges which he described as signs of hope of better things to come.
