The National President of the Oko People’s Union ( OPU), Nze Sunday Nwafor has assured the 12th Governing Council and management of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, led by Dr. Chioma Irene Awuzie of their unwavering support and cooperation.

The community leaders poured encomium on the Rector, Dr. Chioma Awuzie for her open leadership style and numerous achievements within six months of assumption of office including the free medical outreach the Polytechnic conducted recently in Oko community.

The OPU leadership who paid a courtesy visit to the Rector in her office on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 also called on the school authority to rescuscitate Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme Annual Lecture series earlier initiated by the former Rector, Prof. Godwin Onu.

In his address, the National President, Nze Nwafor called on the management to endeavour to improve on the legacies and vision of Late Dr. Alex Ekwueme which, according to him, include: human capital development, peaceful environment and cordial relationship between the host community and the Polytechnic.

They beckoned on the the Rector to sustain the social responsibility initiative in their community and also improved on students intake.

The community also urged the Rector and school management to help the students of the Polytechnic access the recently introduced Federal Government Students Loan and also endeavour to re-accredit existing Courses in the Polytechnic and mount new programmes.

Responding, the Rector, Dr. Chioma Awuzie expressed joy over the visit by the community leaders and stakeholders, promising to end any form of rancour between the Polytechnic and the host community.

The Rector stressed the import of reviving the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Annual Lecture series, saying that her administration will be organising the lecture bi-annually.

She stated that the Polytechnic recently presented nine programmes including new ones for accreditation and they all got approval by the National Board for Technical Education, (NBTE). She added that her administration had applied for resource inspection for more new programmes like Nursing Technology, Pharmaceutical Technology, Legal Studies among others,

She however seeks the cooperation of the host community, stressing that respect to the host community will be her utmost priority.

During the visit, Oko community was represented by the entire national officers of the Oko People’s Union, representatives of the Oko Council of Chiefs, president and leaders of OPU, women wing, president of Umuada Oko, president and leaders of Oko Youths, chairman and some members of Association of Oko Indigenous Staff of the Federal Polytechnic Oko,

community leaders and stakeholders including the two term member of the Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Hon. Okonkwo Okom.