Kogi State Polytechnic has embarked on N1.5 billion projects to create conducive teaching-learning environment for its three campuses at Lokoja, Osara and Itakpe.
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Matthew Ajibero made this known while addressing a three-day accreditation team from the National Board on Technical education (NBTE) last week in Lokoja, the state capital.
He said out of the amount, the state government released N500 million which was used for road construction on the main campus, while Education Trust Fund (ETF) gave N1 billion for other projects in the institution.
Prof. Ajibero who noted that when he assumed duty as Rector, there were no core engineering courses in the institution, thanked Governor Ibrahim Idris for releasing fund for such courses which were accredited in 2009, stressing, “we have added value to those programmes”.
While declaring that “fallen standard of education is being exaggerated in Nigeria”, he said the Polytechnic has lived up to expectation by producing quality students.
He maintained that apart from well equipped departments, the institution can boast of 1,000 capacity auditorium, 5,000 capacity lecture theatre, engineering complex at Itakpe, etc.
He added that about N150 million had been expended on engineering and environmental science equipment.
The Rector disclosed that the school is information and technology compliant, with about 100 computers, wireless internet connectivity within the polytechnic and the on-going computerization of the school library. Part of the ICT project, he stated, is a resource centre with 50 computers and a computer laboratory.
Prof. Ajibero who intimated that the institution has put in place other facilities, reiterated that his open-door administration had created cordial management-staff-student relationship which engenders “no man-hour loss” on the campus.
Leaders of the NBTE team, Eng. Joseph Falade confessed that Kogi Polytechnic of today has improved tremendously unlike what it used to be 10 years ago, saying the state government should be commended for the success so far recorded.
He described accreditation as a process of check and balance for quality assurance, stressing that it was not intended to witch hunt any institution.
Programmes slated for accreditation are HND SLT Biochemistry, HND SLT Biology, HND SLT Chemistry, HND Statistics, Pre-ND Science and Technology, ND Computer Science, ND Art and Design, ND Architectural Technology and ND Building technology
