Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.
Cultism, one of the social ills that has brought bad image to the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has been finally flushed out of the institution.
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Muhammed Atureta disclosed last week to members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kogi state Council, at an interactive session held in his office.
He said the menace has shifted from the campuses to unknown places, following stern warning by the Polytechnic authorities. “Any body caught as a cultist will be expelled from the institution and as well be handed over to the police for diligent prosecution at the appropriate court of law. ”
The Rector recalled that the state governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello recently handed down warning to heads of tertiary institutions across the state to end cultism or be sacked.
“We here at the Kogi state Polytechnic are on top of the situation. The whole Polytechnic community has gotten the message and been sensitized, any body who violates the order will have him or her self to blame” Prof. Atureta further warned.
According to the Rector, other anti social activities such as examination malpractice, drug abuse indecent dressing are also on the watch of authorities as some students were already relying on such menace as a way of life.
Prof. Atureta stated that he wants to cleave behind a legacy in the institution, promising to contribute his own quota to its development.
The Rector who assumed duty a year ago, lamented that the Kogi Polytechnic has not benefitted from TET Fund for the past five years. Though no reason was given, efforts are already in the pipeline to reclaim the fund.
Atureta also revealed that the last convocation ceremony of the institution was held five years ago, however assured that by April this year, a combined 5 sets convocation will hold as a planning committee has been set up to organise and implement ceremony.
The Rector said he met a very strong Students Union Government, but not troublesome as they have been cooperating. He said apart from the open door policy of his administration, there is also Students/Security committee system set up to jointly tackle security challenges on the campuses. “So the Authority/Students relationship is cordial as there is free flow of information ” he said.
Atureta, while debunking the rumour that school fees has increased, said it was fees that were not charged before that has been added to those concerned. “The fees are not new, but were not being charged, the skill acquisition centre is one of the areas where fees is introduced, Students Health Insurance Scheme, as well as Convocation fee which is charged in every institution.”
According to the Rector, the fees are very minimal and were proposed to Governing Council, after due consultation it was approved. He said the students were fully sensitised.
On admission, he said over 8000 applicants chose to study at the Kogi state Polytechnic, the school could only admit 3000 students based on the availability of human and physical resources to cope with the number of students. “A education is a social service that everybody is entitled to.
The Rector revealed that the Polytechnic has offered over 50 sabbaticals to lecturers both within and outside the country, many have attended conference.
The Polytechnic has 3 campuses located at Osara, Itakpe and the main at Lokoja. Only Lokoja main campus that students are not accommodated in hostels, due to plans by the state government to renovate the hostels.
The school is still waiting for government’s gesture that promised 3 years ago.
Prof. Atureta who commended the Kogi state government for the opportunity given to him to contribute to the development of science and technical education and engineering, promised to do his best and leave a legacy that wil not be regretted by the Polytechnic community.
