Guardian

RECTOR of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, (AIFPU) Afikpo North council of Ebonyi State, Prof. Francis Ogbonna Otunta, has underscored the importance of data generated from matriculation exercises in tertiary institutions. According to him, such statistics were important for planning purposes and the formulation of policies.

Speaking at the institution’s 32nd matriculation held recently, Otunta disclosed that out of the total number of new students admitted into the institution for the 2012/2013 academic session, 2, 393 students were offered admission to pursue National Diploma (ND) programmes even as 1, 567 of the freshmen are to undergo the Higher National Diploma programme spread across the 24 academic departments.

He congratulated the new students on their success explaining that they must have worked hard to scale through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, (UTME) and the institutions internal aptitude test appraisal scheme.

He declared that under his watch the Polytechnic has embarked on “deliberate policy of capacity building programme as well as infrastructure/facility projects with the goal of making our dear institution occupy a position of first among equal in the comity of polytechnics in the country” stressing that the aspiration of the authorities is that the Polytechnic should metamorphose into a giant University of Science and Technology, East of the Niger.

The Rector added: “All this is in consonance with the policy thrust of my administration to leave this institution better than I met it seven years ago. This pet dream is gradually being realized as shinning legacies to the posterity of Nigerian youths…There is no room for indolence or cutting corners in this Polytechnic. We believe in honesty because honesty like truth is the best policy.

“Thus in line with the motto of the Polytechnic-Skill for technological Freedom-we are determined to seek the truth, to teach the truth, to preserve the truth, so that knowledge and wisdom may flourish; so that we may produce for the labour market and the Nigerian nation, sound, articulate, resourceful, innovative and God-fearing learners at the end of their educational experience”.

The Professor of Mathematics reminded the new students to strive to work hard stressing that “the distinction or upper credit you may make at the end of your academic programme begins today since according to him, “life does not consist of what you find in it, but what you put into it”.

He warned that instant rustication awaits students that engage in examination malpractices, cultism and other nefarious anti-social activities.