The new management of the formerly named Abia State Polytechnic Aba, which was renamed Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic Aba in honour of the founder and pioneer democratically elected governor of the state, Dr Ogbonnaya Christopher Onu, has recorded a number of feats.

These include full accreditation of its 33 courses by the statutory authorities, off-setting/settling of all previously owed staff’s 36 months’ salaries, abolishing the selling of handouts to students and issuance of statements of results, and the introduction of online voting during Students’ Union elections.

It has also become the first polytechnic in the country to establish a full Department of Artificial Intelligence and run the course, among others.

These were gathered and confirmed when members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Abia State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) interfaced with the Rector, Dr Christopher Okoro, an associate professor of engineering, who explained that the abolition of statements of results and handouts was to save students from alleged exploitation and to do away with outdated practices.

He vowed: “Our students are no longer compelled to buy handouts; it has been outlawed. We have also abolished the issuance of statements of results and digitised the processes to ensure things are done the right way.”

Asked why these changes were necessary, he explained: “The action became imperative. We cannot, at this digital age, have a scenario where a student graduates and, five years later, you give the person a paper and call it a statement of results, probably having paid for the clearance; and the same person comes back years later for certificates, and you still collect money again and start searching for the files. We had to stop this archaic practice.”

He said that presently, upon graduation, students shall be given certificates that have QR codes, which would be verifiable anywhere. “Once an employer scans this QR code, it directs them to the Registrar and/or Rector. The holder’s name will appear. We will confirm whether or not the person is our product.”

It has also been made easy for students to obtain their results without passing through the lecturers to avoid exploitation, because once examinations are over, all results must be uploaded six weeks after examination – four weeks for those in finals, and six weeks for the rest. “So, students do not need to meet the lecturer,” he added.

Rector Okoro cited staff welfare as a top priority, recalling that 36 months of salary arrears that accumulated during previous administrations were cleared, facilitated by the state governor, Dr Alex Otti.

“We are not just student-centred, we are also staff-centred. Our staff members have been taken care of. All their arrears of salaries have been cleared.

“We came on board having 36 months’ salary owed, but the Governor has supported us to clear these arrears, as we no longer owe anybody on the campus. Not just that, he has also ensured that staff members who were not promoted since 2008–2012 have been promoted up to 2022. We have now started the second phase of promotion, which will take us to 2025. It therefore means that His Excellency has paid a debt he did not owe.”

According to the Rector, the Polytechnic, which was deregistered by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) about three years ago, has gained full accreditation for all its 33 programmes, with an additional 17 new programmes, all of which have been granted approvals by the NBTE.

He listed some of the new programmes as Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Mechatronics Engineering, and Fashion Design Technology, among others.

“We have Leather Technology as a new programme. We have Fashion Design Technology as a new programme. Aba is known for fashion and design, so there is no way we are in Aba and do not have fashion and leather studies.

“This Polytechnic is the first in the whole of Southern Nigeria to have Leather Technology as a department. This institution is also the first Polytechnic in Nigeria to have Artificial Intelligence as a department. We know the times and we will work ahead of others.”

He attributed the institution’s success stories to “massive support from Governor Otti, describing his leadership as one that thinks for the present and for the future.”

“Governor Otti has awarded contracts for the construction of our internal roads on this campus and at our permanent site at Osisioma.

“He approved the construction of two hostels of 5,000 capacity each for male and female students at the Osisioma campus. The Governor has also given approval for the construction of a standard auditorium and an iconic administrative block building at the Osisioma campus, stating that these initiatives are geared towards ensuring that academic activities commence at the permanent Osisioma campus in the 2025–2026 academic session.”

While commending the Chapel members for the visit to ascertain what they might have heard and to compare with the previous scenario, the Rector described journalists and journalism as indispensable professionals and an integral part of society, as well as important stakeholders for democracy to thrive, pledging to collaborate with the media for mutual benefits.

“We are looking for partnership. Our arms are very open, especially for positive collaborations – the type we know we are going to get with your Chapel.”

He congratulated the new Chapel leadership, led by Deacon Steve Oko of the Vanguard Newspapers, saying: “From what we heard about you and your colleagues, we are optimistic that your professional activities will positively impact development, peace, and concord in the state, taking the state to greater heights.”

Earlier, Comrade Oko told the Rector that the visit was informed by the Chapel’s set agenda to publicise institutions in the state, commended the Rector for his radical transformation of the Polytechnic shortly after assumption of duties, and therefore tasked him to sustain a harmonious working relationship with other members of his management team, the staff, and the students.