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| A cross-section of the graduates of the convocation ceremony. |
No fewer than 20,933 students of
Delta State Polytechnics, Ogwashi-Uku were formerly adopted as graduates of the
institution on Saturday, October 14, 2019, having successfully completed their studies
at the institution’s second combined modest, but colourful convocation ceremony.
The event, which was attended by
the State Governor and Visitor to the Polytechnic, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, was for six
academic sessions from 2013/14 through 2018/19.
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| Governor Okowa, Visitor, (middle), flanked by Dr. Festus Okubor, Chairman, Council Board and Prof (Mrs) Chiemeke, Provost at the ceremony. |
A breakdown of the total number
of the adopted graduates of the Polytechnic, revealed 9,359 Ordinary Diplomas
(ND) and 11,575 Higher National Diplomas (HND).
The ceremony, which was also
attended by top government functionaries that included the Delta State Commissioner
for Higher Education, Prof Patrick Muoboghare, witnessed the conferment of
fellowship awards of the Polytechnic to the former governor of the State, Chief
James Onanefe Ibori, former minister of education, Olorugun Kenneth Omemevwa
Gbagi, former member of the House of Representative, representing
Aniocha/Oshimili federal Constituency, Prince Ned Nwoko, and a renowned
investment banker and politician, Chief Henry Chuks Nzekwue.
In his address at the occasion,
the Visitor to the Polytechnic, Governor Okowa commended the Governing Council
and management of the Institution for putting up the combined convocation, five
years after the last convocation was held, saying that he was particularly
happy that the certificates and transcripts of the graduands from the six
academic sessions were ready for distribution and appreciated that it was in
consonance with his directive to all tertiary institutions in the state to
ensure the readiness of the document before any convocation ceremony.
While urging them to apply the
same discipline, focus and resourcefulness towards turning the polytechnic into
centre of excellence that it was conceived to be, Governor Okowa noted that the
institution which was established 17 years ago by the Chief James Ibori
Administration has continued to be nurtured and sustained with vigour by
his administration.
“It is gratifying that like the
other two polytechnic, the Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic has maintained steady
progress since its establishment, even in the face of peculiar financial and
environmental challenges. Aside from the thousands who have graduated from this
school and are currently impacting the wider society with the fruits of their
knowledge, there have been appreciable improvements in the physical
infrastructure and curriculum developments, while the school has been
relatively scandal free”, the Governor stated and revealed that arrangements
have been made in the 2020 budget for the tarring of the internal roads within
the polytechnic campus as well as the construction of the school perimeter
fence.
“We are also giving priority
attention to the provision of portable water on the campus, taking into
cognizance the difficult terrain/topography of Ogwashi-uku. Our administration
will continue to do its best to upgrade and update the infrastructure and other
facilities to ensure that the polytechnic becomes a true centre of excellence
that we can all be proud of,” he said.
The Governor also congratulated
the new graduates for the successful completion of their studies, saying that
the day marked the end of a chapter in their lives and the beginning of another
one, adding that their graduation from the Institution was a baptism into the
age of responsibility.
He said: “It is now your
responsibility to write the remaining chapters of your life. To do a good job
of that, one of the things you need to quickly come to terms with is that the future
of the labour market is not necessarily the certificate you will be given
today; it is in job skills and entrepreneurship.
“Our society and education
prepared us for white or blue collar job. But with the exploding population,
digital economy and opportunity society driven by change, entrepreneurship is
the key to unlocking the doors of prosperity and personal fulfillment.
“In this new world characterized
by dazzling speed and rapid change, graduates who excel are those whose best
skill is thinking outside the box. Be prepared to learn new things and acquire
new skills. Like I have always said, graduation do not mean the end of
learning, it just means you are now responsible for your own learning. So
invest time, energy and resources to acquire skills that will put you on the
path of profitable entrepreneurship,” the governor admonished, even as he
called on them to pay attention to the needs of the society with a view to
finding creative means to addressing those needs, saying that money gravitates
towards those who solve problems for others.”
The State Governor to the
applause of the graduates, announced the immediate appointment of one of them,
Comrade Francis Iwedike Osedume as a Special Assistant on Student Affairs,
saying that it was in fulfillment of his promise during his declaration of
intention to run for the governorship of the State in 2014 where the said
Francis Iwedike Osedume mobilized a great number of students of the institution
for his support without fear of the implication.
In his own address, the Chairman
Governing Council of the Polytechnic, Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor commended the Governor
for allowing the Council and the institution to function in line with the laws
establishing the polytechnic without interference, pointing out that they have
remained focused towards a comprehensive and rapid development of the
Institution through robust policy formulation, transparency and accountability.
Dr. Okubor congratulated the
graduates, saying that it was a great delight celebrating them, while he was
full of apologies for the belated convocation, but promised that convocation
shall henceforth be an annual event to be held in the polytechnic soon after
final results are released, even as he listed numerous achievements of the
council under his leadership.
Earlier in her address, the
Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Mrs. Stella Chiemeke said from the inception
of her administration, the polytechnic has been in the process of completing
infrastructural and physical developments projects evidenced by more classrooms
and offices for both teaching and non-teaching staff.
“This infrastructural
development has been made possible by tremendous assistance from the Delta
State Government, TETFund and Internally Generated Revenue of the Polytechnic,”
she stated, and identified buildings under construction to include the State
Government’s sponsored aand SPAT building currently being constructed through
the internally generated revenue of the Institution.
”In addition, the Chapel of
Mercy is another project constructed via the IGR and staff donation. Staff
training and development has been a major priority, as a lot of emphasis is
currently on research and development for improvement of our system,” Chiemeke
said.
She listed the achievements
recorded since her inception as the Rector to include:
Computerization of Student
record processing and all bursary operations, introduction of computer based
examination (CBE) for all OND 1 and HND 1 which she said has tremendously
helped to curb malpractices in examinations, full accreditation of five courses
in 2018 and reactivation of hitherto abandoned student hostels.
Also included in her list of
achievements is the establishment of staff schools (Basic and Post-Primary),
provision of borehole on campus C, re-introduction of part time programmes and
pursuant to the SMART initiative of the Governor of the State, Senator Dr
Ifeanyi Okowa, the putting up of a proposal for short certificate courses to be
an additional boost for meaningful peace building platforms aimed at political
socio stability and youth empowerment.
Prof. Chiemeke reiterated her
commitment towards leading the Institution to becoming a 21st century
Polytechnic in learning, research and innovation while appealing to the newly
adopted graduates of the Polytechnic to strive for excellence in every aspect
of their future endervours, saying that it is the expectation of the
Polytechnic that they remain good ambassadors of the Institution.
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