From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja has successful received accreditation and re-accreditation of 47 Programmes by the National Board for Technical Education including the backlogs of some dated as far back as 2009 under the leadership of Professor Salisu Usman Ogbo since assumption of office in 2020.
The Rector has also said that his administration has boosted security architecture to tackle cultism and other social vices in the institution.
Professor Salisu Usman Ogbo disclosed this while giving account of his performance at the ongoing Stewardship Forum organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, Kogi State Council
According to the Rector the courses that were accredited includes, “the School of Agricultural Technology at Itakpe Campus with four (4) programmes; namely Agricultural Technology, Animal Health and Production Technology, Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Technology, and Horticulture and Landscape Technology
” Resource Inspection of Mass Communication, Clothing and Textile Technology and Printing Technology programmes at the ND level;
“Establishment and accreditation of HND Civil Engineering;
“Establishment and successful Resource Inspection of HND Mechanical Engineering (Manufacturing Option), Building Technology, Architectural Technology and Surveying and Geo-Informatics;
“Follow up and eventual signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) for collaboration, smooth take off and eventual accreditation of the Departments of Mechatronics Engineering Technology at the School of Engineering, Itakpe;
“Academic Linkage and Affiliation with the Federal University Lokoja for Top – Up Degree and Regular Undergraduate Programme leading, to the award of First Degree in various disciplines. This also includes staff, students, facilities sharing and exchange programme;
“Other feats attained to boost academic excellence are, constitution of Academic Board Central Results Verification Committee, leading to proper scrutiny of results, cost effectiveness, and reduction in time wastage at the Academic Board meetings;
“Introduction of Computer Based Test (CBT) for the conduct of the General Studies and other examinations with large classes which has curbed unethical practices and ensured prompt release of results;
“Provision of new statement of result template with additional security features against falsification;
“E-Results computation and display of semester results online for students;
“Furnishing and provision of adequate up-to-date textbooks, Journals and e – library components at the Polytechnic Library”
On Security, the Rector told journalists that “A model security house was built within my first 100 days in office, which replaced the 3-room cubicle that was hitherto in use;
“Frontal campaign and deployment of security architecture against cultism and cult related activities as well as other social vices which led to the arrest of suspected cultist later convicted and sentenced; arrest of illicit drug barons among others;
“Provision of Security Patrol Vans for Lokoja and Itakpe Campuses;
“Provision of CCTV camera and communication gadgets for effective surveillance and communication;
“Campus illumination and ban on indiscriminate planting of crops that might constitute security threat;
“Training and Retraining of the Security operatives and personnel;
“Ban on unruly end-of-semester and ‘signing-out’ celebrations”
Earlier the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, Kogi State Council who also is the Reporter of Channels Television, Segun Salami, told the Rector that the Stewardship Forum was organised to enable the elected and appointed public office holders in the state give back to the people what they have been able to achieve in terms of service delivery on their mandate.
