Dr Emmanuel Agada Ediri is the Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ohodo in Enugu state. In this interview with CHAMBA SIMEH, he speaks on the progress made so far in the institution and the need to sustain the tempo of development. Excerpts:
As a polytechnic administrator, what specific challenges have you encountered?
Well, as a matter of fact, every position has corresponding degree of responsibilities. So, it is not out of place to have challenges in every new level of administration. On assumption of office, I inherited an institution that, though in name, is a polytechnic but, in reality, it was a monotechnic with just one programme i.e Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE). It was a very sad situation as the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) had denied the approval for mounting of other programmes proposed by the polytechnic on ground of poor infrastructure. To say the least, this was my greatest challenge.
Since assumption of office as rector, what areas have you consolidated on?
On assumption of office, I prioritised accreditation of existing programmme and mounting of additional ones. Barely one month of assumption of office as an acting rector, the polytechnic mobilised and successfully hosted the NBTE quality assurance team. The exercise was successful as three new programmes including Science Laboratory Technology (SLT), Computer Science and Public Administration were mounted and accredited. This set up the institution on new academic pedestal.
Secondly, I not only consolidated expansion of infrastructural facilities in the institution but also advanced the rate of completion of existing projects. Within two months of my assumption of office, I had successfully ensured the completion of ongoing building projects including School of Business Management Technology, Science Building, Water reticulation, etc. Others like refectory, hostel, auditorium, library, etc are at 80% completion rate.
Thirdly, I have also given attention to staff welfare by institutionaliing utilisation mechanism for accessing TeTFUND intervention programmes. For the first time, the polytechnic accessed fund for Institution Based Research to advance research in the polytechnic. This has considerably enhanced staff’s intellectual capacity needed for effective teaching and learning. This is in addition to sponsorship of staff for academic conferences, seminars and workshops both locally and internationally.
What efforts are you making towards enhancing students enrollment in your institution?
Admittedly, students’ enrollment figure is a justification of our mission as a polytechnic. Recall, that I inherited EEE only as a course as I said earlier. Having just one programme in a polytechnic is unacceptable and cannot give widened options for students to choose. This accounted for low enrollment figure that had persisted before now. But, the narrative is changing. You may as well ask: how?
We took the boldest step of widening options for our prospective students with three new departments in 2024/2025 academic session. We followed up with other advertising measures which hitherto were not a priority for the past administration. We have advertised our school in radio stations in Benue, Nsukka, Dream FM Enugu, Ebonyi Broadcasting Service, Abakaliki, etc. We also localised our advert by sponsoring church bulletins in our catchment areas.
Between February and March we started a street-train outreach programme. This mobile advert took us to Nsukka and Enugu environs. You need to watch the dexterity and commitment of the staff in this road show. This has proved very helpful as the enrollment figure has increased considerably.
In addition, the polytechnic, under my leadership, has started the Remedial and Part-time programme. This targets those whose jobs and time may not permit to enroll in a full-time programme to enroll into any programme provided they have the requisite O’Level qualifications. At the moment, we are deploying blended learning that allows for flexibility in these programmmes.
The admission is still ongoing. Hopefully, by the end of the present 2024/2025 admission, and going by the response we are getting, the issue of low enrollment figure will change.
There have been allegations of financial impropriety against the management of the institution, how true is this?
Well, as a public institution, transparency and accountability is a desideratum. Issues that suggest financial impropriety are always at the front burner of public discourse. To the best of my knowledge, my polytechnic is not under any investigation by the EFCC or ICPC at the moment. On assumption of office, I noticed that the Polytechnic’s financial books have not been audited. We engaged relevant agency to have both forensic and physical auditing of our financial books. That process is ongoing and when completed, we can have a better perspective in respect to your question.
How has your polytechnic placed itself to realise the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Tinubu administration?
His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda in respect to education is premised on wider access to quality education for all. This is demonstrated by the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) that our school is presently benefitting from.
For us in the polytechnic, we have this mantra: “Skills and not just Degrees”. This means a lot for skill development as against just having university degrees. This is in sync with ’The Students Start-up Innovation and Entrepreneurship Grant that empowers youths to convert knowledge into enterprise of the federal government. So, our school is keying into this. We have activated our Skill Development Centre as an entrepreneurship hub in the area. At the centre, students are expected to learn skills in addition to their educational certificates. This targets self-sufficiency and self-employment which will have a multiplier effect in wealth creation. This is a dream shared by all but, is being put into action in our polytechnic.
Where do you see the polytechnic under your leadership in the next four years?
My people say that ‘the mile a thrown stone can travel depends on the strength of the hand that is throwing it”, meaning that commitment and cumulative will power of all staff, students and the polytechnic community, a polytechnic that lives up to our mission and vision will be possible. By the next academic session, we should have mounted additional five programmes in environmental, agriculture, science and management science schools. The multiplier effect in terms of enrollment and quality teaching and learning can be inferred.