Udom urges review of course curriculum in state poly, offers N100m grant

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has tasked authorities of the state-owned polytechnic to incorporate entrepreneurial development in the institution’s curriculum to facilitate economic advancement in the country.

Consequently, he has announced a grant of N100m for the Institution to commence processes of securing full accreditation of few outstanding courses that were earlier granted interim accreditation by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The governor who gave the directive at the sixth convocation of the institution said rejigging of the curriculum would enable students of the institution become employers of labour after graduation rather than job seekers.He stressed the need to ensure qualitative contents and capacity building in all programmes of the polytechnic.

“Every singular aspect of our development in education should look at entrepreneurship because that is where the next line of action for economic development of any developing country lie. We need to redesign our curriculum and see how we can train our people to come out and create jobs instead of following the design of African method of education in training people to come out and look for jobs”, he said.

Emmanuel assured that his administration will continue to invest in the education sector in a determined effort to prepare the Akwa Ibom child for the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century, stressing that quality education will remain one of the cardinal responsibilities of his government.

He hinted that the state government was planning an education summit that is aimed at reshaping the sector, adding that plans are underway to announce the governing councils for the state owned institutions to put things in the right perspective.He expressed delight that the state polytechnic has attained the status of the most sought after institution within its short years of existence, describing the feat as a good testimonial of the quality of training offered in the polytechnic.

While congratulating the graduands, the governor directed the school authorities to commence yearly convocation of graduates and commended the Council and students for their efforts in making sure that cultism was eradicated from the institution.He also expressed gratitude to the NBTE for their support, thanking the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for periodically sponsoring some training programmes in the institution.

Earlier, the Acting Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Moses Umobong, stated that the institution was zealously pursuing the fulfillment of its objectives in training and research in the Applied Sciences, Technology and other fields to meet the manpower needs of the nation, adding that their collective resolve is to ensure a peaceful environment devoid of divisiveness and rancor.

He added that over 400 graduates of the polytechnic have been inducted and granted licences for professional practice by the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NIISLT), attributing the feat to the high standard and quality of training following a decade of accreditation of the Science Laboratory Technology Programme in the institution.

The Acting Rector however noted that despite carrying out the directives of the state government in recruiting additional 100 personnel which make up a staff strength of 640, the institution is still in need of manpower to enhance effective service delivery, seeking approval for further recruitment to address the acute staff shortage occasioned by accreditation of more courses, rise in student population and due attention to special subject interest.