Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The Southern Atlantic Polytechnic in Akwa Ibom is set for it maiden matriculation ceremony with 300 students to study National Diploma in five accredited programmes.
The proprietor of the Polytechnic, Mr Bassey James disclosed this while speaking to newsmen on the activities of the institution in Uyo on Tuesday.
James said that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has accredited Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Science Laboratory Technology and Public Administration programmes.
He explained that apart from the national diploma programmes offered by the institution, the polytechnic would offer certificate courses in Information Technology, Hotel management and protocol, Welding, Fabrication and Marine Engineering to ensure graduates were self-reliance.
The proprietor and founder of the private polytechnic said the institution has been affiliated to some foreign institutions to ehnance knowledge and technological sharing.
He sai that the Chairman of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Mr Aniekpon Ekpo, has offered scholarships to 100 students from the local community.
“By the grace of God we are still admitting students and we have 300 students for matriculation this week. The chairman of Mkpat Enin LGA in partnership with the Polytechnic has also given 100 students from the community to be part of the programme.
“He has offered scholarship to 100 indigenes of Mkpat Enin and we are happy with that. So, we have regular students and as I am talking to you today, 10 students have been admitted.
“So, it’s a progress that God is doing. We will continue to admit even to the last day and beyond because our polytechnic, I won’t say is the best, but it is one of the best today.
“In the last one year we’ve been able to put facilities that can stand the test of time anywhere in Nigeria. And people are coming and on that day we are lunching our garri, crayfish and palm oil.
“Our idea is to build a strong entrepreneurship development for our people. So, that you are not just coming to school but also to learn how to do business, developing yourself in the 21st century business world,” James said.
James, who is also the National President of Private Polytechnic Founders and Rector Association in Nigeria, called for clampdown of illegal polytechnics to safe the approved ones and the innocent public.
He expressed displeasure on the indiscriminate proliferation of polytechnics in Akwa Ibom and around the country.
He said the association has written to both the National and State Assembly informing them of the ugly incidence.
He said considering the way the association is moving, in the next one year, illegal Polytechnics would be eradicated in the country.
James called for sanity in the educational system, stressing that the effect of the illegal institutions is to churn out half baked graduates, who have nothing to offer to the society.
“I have written to the Federal government, the National and State Assemblies about the the dangers of these illegal Polytechnics and the need to clampdown on them.
“I have even raised the issue to the National board of technical Education and they promised to do something. I know some of the people who are doing this illegal business and I’ve given them timeline.
“This, must disappear because it waters down the quality of education and everything about our people. It is very annoying that you spend upto one billion naira to build an institution, and you see someone that will stay in his bedroom to say he is running a Polytechnic,” he said.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari on the harmonisation of the HND/BSC Dichotomy, adding that the disparity was unnecessary considering the experience HND graduates gannered during the mandatory internship. Programme.