Development of Federal Poly, Isuochi permanent site, ongoing – Governing Council Chairman

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

Chairman of Federal Polytechnic, Ngodo Isuichi, Governing Council, Alhaji Suleiman Oduwale, while addressing Governor Alex Otti during the visit to the Governor by members of the Polytechnic’s Governing Council and Management Staff

Construction work has commenced at the permanent site of Federal Polytechnic, Ngodo Isuochi in Abia State, following the approval of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the land for building the institution by the state Governor, Dr. Alex Otti.

Chairman of the Polytechnic’s Governing Council, Alhaji Suleiman Oduwale, who disclosed this when he led other members of Council and the management staff of the school to visit Governor Otti, also revealed that National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has given its nod for the institution to offer Electrical Electronics programme.

Oduwale said that the visit was to thank Governor Otti for his support for the development of the School, including granting Certificate of Occupancy for the permanent site of the Polytechnic which has enabled them to start construction work on the site.

Alhaji Oduwale while equally thanking the Governor for donating and energizing a new transformer to the School, informed the Governor that NBTE has just granted accreditation for the study of electrical electronics in the Polytechnic.

He thanked the Governor for upgrading the security architecture of the area which has sent positive signal to parents to send their children to study in the school, describing the Governor as a shining star who has really proven to be on a mission to make a positive change.

Responding, Governor Otti thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the establishment of the Polytechnic in the State and congratulated the Chairman of the Governing Council for starting on a good note, including securing accreditation for some courses.

He also appreciated the Chairman of the Council for starting construction work at the permanent site of the institution, telling him that the current administration does not make any distinction between federal and state institutions located in the state provided they were for the benefit of Abians.

“For us, as a government, we don’t care whether an institution is Federal or State. We don’t pay so much attention to whether it’s a Federal, State or local government. They are going to be used by our people anyhow you slice and dice it. The majority of the students in the Federal Polytechnic are Abia people.

“If the Federal Government, in its magnanimity, approved the establishment of a Polytechnic in Abia, we should be happy and supportive. 

“So, on that basis, the request for a C of O came. Of course, we have established a system where from the time you apply for a C of O, subject to all the conditions being met, to the time the C of O gets into your hands, it should not take more than 30 days,” he said.

Governor Otti who noted the improved security situation at Umunneochi LGA, said security was everything, pointing out that a lot of attention was being paid to Uturu – Isuikwuato axis to further tighten security in the area.

The Governor therefore assured that his administration would continue to collaborate with various security agencies in the State with a view to nipping in the bud all forms of insecurity in any part of the State.

“On the issue of security, when we came here, we found that that area was left to bandits, just like parts of Isuikwuato. And we made it very clear that we were not going to tolerate it. So, it was a battle, and we knew we were going to win the battle. They all had to relocate.

 “We have seen a few sporadic incidents happening in different parts of Isuikwuato and we are dealing with the situation. I just finished a short meeting and that was to deal with Uturu in Isiukwuato local government area where the state university is located. So for us, security is the most important thing in everything we do,” the Governor said.

The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Professor Uche Eme Uche, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Tertiary Education, Dr. Emeka Enyiazu, were present during the visit.