Dr.Chioma Irene Awuzie Rector, Federal Polytechnic Oko in her maiden press briefing at her office has unveiled a number of infrastructural development and transformation drive achieved by her administration within 100 days in office. Speaking to journalists, she read out her 12 point agenda including Human Resource Development, Staff Welfare, Academic Reinvention and Programme Development, Student Welfare, Discipline, Anti-cultism, Academic Integrity, Relationship with stakeholders, Public Relations and Image Management, Security, Financial Transparency and Infrastructural Development .
She enumerated a number of actions her administration has taken in line with the 12 point agenda including distribution of federal government palliative rice to staff, timely appraisal and promotion exercise, recognition of hardworking staff with incentive given to them to motivate them. Accreditation of programmes by NBTE. Strengthening of SERVICOM to ensure discipline among staff and students. On the issue of cultism, the Rector stated “here we have zero tolerance for cultism, the anticult squad is always there to make sure there are no clandestine activities in the Institution.” To ensure academic Integrity, lectures taskforce have been inaugurated to ensure that lecturers come to class to deliver their lectures as and when due.
Dr. Awuzie further revealed that her administration from the onset made it an objective to maintain harmonious relationship with stakeholders which include the Governing Council, the host community, the unions on campus as well as student union. She made known that the free medical outreach for the host community buttresses this harmonious relationship. On the other hand, the slashing of school fees by 7% is also a pointer to the harmonious relationship. She went further to state “this is the first time in Federal Polytechnic Oko that all the unions on campus are speaking with one voice and working harmoniously with the Rector and the Management”
It was equally revealed by Dr. Awuzie that a security outfit, St. Christopher Security Services Ltd has been engaged to provide security in the polytechnic. On the issue of financial transparency, the Rector said “due process is always followed in the procurement process.We follow the procurement act and the Rector knows her approval threshold to avoid contravening the act” Speaking on Infrastructural development, she said ” the new Rector is called madam project. On assumption of office we reactivated a lot of things that were moribund in the institution : table water production , satchet water production , Poly foods, Printing press, skill development centre with equipment, completion of staff sports club and relaxation centre with sporting equipment, erection of security posts, completion of Senator Barnabas Gemade Medical Centre at Ufuma campus”. In addition is decentralization of examination.
Dr. Awuzie reiterated that her administration is an inclusive administration which is strongly against victimisation. According to her “this administration has come to serve, we have come to revamp and reposition Federal Polytechnic Oko. We have come to bring the institution to limelight, for it to be what it used to be in the past”. She attributed the achievements recorded so far to the ability of her administration to put square pegs in square holes and round pegs in round holes.
The Rector seized the opportunity to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing her the substantive Rector, Federal Polytechnic Oko promising to justify the trust reposed in her. She also thanked the Minister of Education and the Governing Council of the Polytechnic for selecting her.
