…As Rector moves to fix infrastructure

The Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, Rivers State, is set to hold a combined convocation for eight sets of graduands, ending an eight-year backlog that has kept successive graduating classes from having formal convocation ceremonies.

 

The institution’s Rector, Dr George Wadike, disclosed this on Wednesday at a pre-convocation briefing, describing the development as one of the major achievements of his administration, barely six months after assuming office.

 

According to Wadike, the Polytechnic last held its convocation in 2018, leaving eight sets of graduands without a formal ceremony. He said his administration had prioritised clearing the backlog to restore confidence among students, staff and other members of the Polytechnic community.

 

“This convocation is a major achievement by my administration because the last convocation in this Polytechnic was in 2018, but within six months of my appointment, we have cleared eight years backlog of convocation arrears,” he said.

 

Beyond the convocation, however, the Rector acknowledged that the institution still faces significant challenges, particularly in infrastructure and power supply. He listed inadequate classrooms, offices, furniture, laboratories, workshops, studios, resource centres and sporting facilities among the areas requiring urgent attention.

 

He also identified epileptic and irregular electricity supply from the national grid as a major constraint to effective academic and administrative activities.

 

Wadike said his administration had nevertheless recorded progress in security, staff welfare, student-management relations, facility maintenance, environmental cleanliness and its relationship with the Rivers State Government and the Polytechnic’s Governing Council.

 

He disclosed that the institution had also established a cyber café at its Information and Communication Technology Centre, while management had intensified collaboration with security agencies to tackle cultism, robbery, harassment and other threats around the Polytechnic and its host community.

 

According to him, the Polytechnic now works more closely with the Anti-Cultism Squad, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, with security personnel regularly patrolling the campuses and surrounding areas.

 

The Rector added that management had adopted a more proactive approach to preventing student unrest through regular engagement with Students’ Union leaders, improved communication and orientation programmes aimed at strengthening understanding between students and management.

 

On staff welfare, Wadike said the institution had commenced payment of arrears of allowances owed teaching staff engaged in part-time programmes, describing the move as part of efforts to improve morale and sustain cordial relations within the Polytechnic.

 

While celebrating the convocation milestone, the Rector said the administration remained focused on tackling the institution’s outstanding infrastructural needs and consolidating the gains recorded in security, welfare, student relations and other areas.

 

As part of activities ahead of the convocation, Wadike, the Chairman of the Polytechnic’s Governing Council, Prof. Friday Sigalo, and members of the management team participated in a tree-planting exercise around the administrative building, signalling the institution’s renewed emphasis on environmental sustainability and a greener campus.