I’ve no power to influence or appoint rector – A’Ibom Polytechnic rector

Etim Ekpimah

The outgoing rector of the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Dr. Moses Umobong, has said that he has no power to appoint his successor. He also cannot influence the appointment.

Some individuals, especially those from the polytechnic host community, alleged that the rector was trying to impose a man from his ethnic group. They claimed this would allow him to succeed as the next rector of the school.

He, however, described the allegation as baseless. He added that only the governor, who is the visitor of the school, has the power to appoint a rector.

Umobong added that he lacked the power to influence such an appointment. He stressed that only the governor of the state has the sole power. It is also the governor’s constitutional power to appoint the rector of the polytechnic.

A statement is gaining traction online. It is endorsed by a ‘Concerned Annang Citizen’. This statement claimed that the rector is collaborating with leaders of the three unions in the polytechnic.

These unions are the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP). They also include the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU). Another one is the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP). The last is the Ibibio Union. They are sponsoring a preferred successor from his ethnic group, the Ibibios, thereby marginalising the Annang.

The ‘Concerned Annang Citizen’ said such a move, if allowed, would cause disharmony among the ethnic groups in the institution. It would cause an institutional crisis. Ultimately, it would bury the only state-owned institution of higher learning located in ‘Annang land.’

Addressing journalists in his office on Wednesday, the Rector wondered how a group of people whom he described as “faceless” could come up with such allegations, knowing that in the case of a state polytechnic, all appointments of Principal Officers are made by the governor.

Umobong regretted that someone could be playing politics of ethnic sentiment in the institution of higher learning instead of championing excellence and academic growth.

According to him, “My job is just to write officially to the governor. I need to tell him when I’ll be exiting, which I have already done. Then, I must obtain permission to advertise. When that approval is granted, the advertisement will be placed, and the council will conduct interviews.

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) is the regulator; they have set up some guidelines for the appointment of a Rector, which must be strictly followed. So how do I come in here?

“During my time, there were eight who applied or contested. We sat for the interview; fortunately for me, I was appointed the Rector. So, are you saying that somebody should be the sole candidate?

“Well, if no other person is interested, that’s fine. However, if there are other interest groups, they have the right to apply.

“All these allies are supposed to go to the governor and say, Governor, I warn you, you must appoint this person from this particular ethnic group. To show your supremacy, to show your powers.’

However, Umobong said he would not be distracted by such speculations. He recalled how he secured 100 per cent accreditation of all the courses and programmes of the polytechnic since assuming office.

This achievement placed Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic from the 99th ranking position to 2nd position as the best polytechnic in Nigeria.

“’At the time I took over, the Polytechnic was in the national ranking in the 99th position. It was 99th out of a total of 110 Polytechnics. This signified that there was something professionally wrong.

So, with the cooperation of all the staff and all of us, we were able to put all our efforts together, work hard together.

After two years, the ranking came again. In the third year of my tenure, we achieved the 18th position. And in 2023, we were ranked the second-best Polytechnic in Nigeria. Polytechnic, Illaro came first, we came second. By the grace of God, the State government has been very supportive, funding us and so on.

“The ranking has to do with the number of valuable factors, part of which would be the number of programmes you run and the accreditations you have. I don’t want to take you too far. I want to tell you that as we speak today, all the programmes in the polytechnic have accreditation. We are not running any illegal program.

‘I came to meet some of them who have no accreditation, but I secured accreditation for all of them. And then secondly, what is very important to note is, the Department of Mechanical Engineering only existed on paper work.

“We have the Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics Engineering, Welding and Fabrication, no accreditation; we have secured accreditation for all.”

Umobong said when he took over, he tried to sanitise the system by ensuring that staff members go for higher academic qualifications and those in professional courses register with their professional bodies

“By the time I took over, we had some who were there for over 25 years or plus with a first degree. They did not bother to go for any other higher qualification. They were so satisfied with the first degree.

There was this indiscriminate, unmerited promotion. We wrote to His Excellency, the Governor and Proprietor. We asked him to give us permission to invite the National Board for Technical Education, the Regulator. They would perform an academic staff audit and a non-academic staff audit. Let’s see where we got it wrong, and why we’re not growing.

The governor granted the approval, and we invited the NBTE, and we discovered so many anomalies. Doing that, you necessarily must step on toes.

“The good thing is today, we have over 60 holders of PhD.  Master’s degree holders are numerous; everybody is going back to school, that’s it! it looks like an institution now. You can’t have a first degree and become a professor, or you become a Chief Lecturer with a first degree? Some people have never published anything. How do you want to grow in academics? You either publish or you do what? you perish.

 As long as I’m here, you show your publications, I have mine. I will show you mine. My CV is here. You see my publications over the years, till this year.”

While announcing his exit in November 2025, the rector thanked the governor, pastor Umo Eno, and his predecessor.

He appreciated their support and attempts to reposition the polytechnic and put it in an enviable position. He also expressed hope that his legacy in the institution would be sustained.