Tuesday, 8 October 2013

Behold, our rector in whom we are well pleased


Behold, our rector in whom we are well pleased
• Students rejoice as OKOPOLY goes digital 
BY EMEKA ONWUDINJO
Students of Federal Polytechnic Oko (OKOPOLY) are counting their blessings. They are singing the praise of the Rector of the institution, Prof Godwin Onu, for what they see as progressive leadership that has given the polytechnic a beautiful face.
Onu assumed office in March 2010 as the Rector and inherited a dilapidated institution lacking in academic discipline, infrastructure and motivation for workers.
But within two years and eight months, he has raised the institution from the dead, such that the Senate Committee Chairman on Education, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije during a one-day official visit to the polytechnic described it as the fastest growing institution in the country.
Similar commendation came from the Vice President of Student Union Government (SUG), Comrade Agu Chinyere, who led other students around the main campus and permanent site of the institution and were thrilled by the new infrastructure and quality of works initiated by the management.
Agu said Prof Onu has proved his mettle as a visionary leader, whose passion for the transformation of the institution has never been hidden.
Hear her: “The issue of cultism, drug abuse and other social vices have been reduced in the institution. When you look around the school, there are so many changes. For instance, all the dilapidated buildings like medical center, Mass Communication building and some other dilapidated buildings were pulled down and replaced with befitting ones.”
Agu noted that before the current administration, infrastructures were moribund both on the main campus and other campuses of the institution, adding that the administration has brought great changes to the institution.
Some of the students who spoke to Campus Sun said Onu brought sunshine on the campus, which has changed the polytechnic to a citadel of learning and elevated the quality of learning and research to higher pedestal.
Some of the students told Campus Sun that the relative peace enjoyed on campus has made uninterrupted academic programme possible. Above all, the issue of cultism in the school has become a thing of the past, giving way to robust relationship among staff and students.
One of the students, Chidinma Nwafor, an ND II student of Mass Communication, told our reporter that Prof Onu would be remembered for being student-friendly. “I like the leadership quality of the Rector. He is a seasoned administrator who has brought his wealth of experience to bear as his tenure is rated the best student-friendly tenure. That’s why we call him “Digital Rector of the moment.”
Another Student, Okoroafor Ndubuisi, commended the Rector for restoring sanity in the institution and lauded his untiring efforts in encouraging students’ welfare.
“I think the Rector had performed better than any other Rector in the history of this institution. He sustained and improved academic excellence in the school. Based on the infrastructural development on the campus, we students call him a ‘Digital Rector of the moment’ for embarking on ICT programme,” he said.
He said the computer-based examination introduced in the institution by Prof Onu would checkmate malpractices and reduce possible extortion of students by lecturers to zero level.
Also, Okonkwo Uchenna, HND 1 student of Insurance Department said he was lured back to continue the Higher Diploma programme because of the changing fortune of the school. According to him, the repositioning of the institution leaves no one in doubt that better things are  on the way.
“I finished my National Diploma Programme here in the school, and I had not intended coming here for further studies but the good work of the Rector is what attracted me to come back. Unlike during our ND Programme, we now have well-equipped lecture halls with facilities. I can only describe him as a true father, a distinguished administrator and Digital Rector” he said.
Investigation by Campus Sun revealed that some of these projects were executed from funds sourced from internally generated revenue. Some of them include: a two-storey Medical Centre complex, the reconstruction of one-storey stores department, a two-storey Exams and Records complex, a two-storey office complex, two-storey Mass Communication complex, two-storey Alex Ekwueme Resource Centre, two-storey Confucius (Chinese Language and Cultural) Centre
Renovation of Dr. Alex Ekwueme Library under the sponsorship of Sir Emeka Offor Foundation was also completed, including the Science Laboratory Technology building, Electrical/Electronics building, Agric Engineering building, Food Technology building, among others.
Our reporter, who was on the team, also noted the completion of renovation and equipping of the existing auditorium, the administrative building, overhaul and equipping of the existing medical unit, establishment of modern diagnostic centre, landscaping and interlocking of the entire main campus, renovation and fencing of the female hostel as well giving Ufuma campus buildings a facelift.
The students also expressed satisfaction with the establishment of medical diagnostic centre with Cardiac monitoring devices (the only one of its kind in Africa, chemistry analyzer, kidney and liver problem dictators) in the institution.
Aside these projects, Onu won the hearts of students by attracting some special intervention projects from TETFUND (Tertiary Education Trust Fund), which led to a two-storey building modification of Mass Communication Complex, construction of two-storey Science Laboratory Technology building, construction of a two-storey Virtual Resource Centre, construction of 1500 capacity Lecture Theatre, among others.
The Rector was also commended for making teaching with power point compulsory from 2012/2013 academic session, as well as establishing linkages with other institutions like: Sharda University, Greater Noida, India, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Central University Sagar, India and the Confucius Institute of the Chinese Government.
New courses and departments were also introduced to increase access. Some of the new courses include: Mechatronics Engineering Technology, Industrial Maintenance and Safety Engineering Technology, Aeronautics Science Technology, Aviation and Transport Management, Marine Science Technology, Nano Science Technology, Fisheries Technology, Agricultural Science Technology, Solar Power Technology, Bio-Energy Technology and Forensic Science Technology.
New courses to be introduced in the second phase include: Production Engineering Technology, Chemical Engineering Technology, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Technology, Environmental Engineering Technology, Soil Science Technology, Crop Science Technology, Pharmaceutical Technology, Media Laboratory Technology, Local Government Studies, among others.
• Onwudinjo is a second year student of Mass Communication, OKOPOLY

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