Enugu governor to build access road for FEDPOLY Ohodo
The Enugu State Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah hosted the Governing Council and management of Federal Polytechnic, Ohodo, Igbo-Etiti Local Council recently, pledging his government’s support for the infrastructural development of
The Enugu State Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah hosted the Governing Council and management of Federal Polytechnic, Ohodo, Igbo-Etiti Local Council recently, pledging his government’s support for the infrastructural development of the institution. He promised to construct the seven kilometer road leading to the polytechnic from the Otukpo-Obollo-Afor-9th Mile-Enugu Road, assuring that his administration would support the institution to become a citadel of excellence in technological, engineering and skills training.
Members of the Governing Council and Management led by the Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Dangana Ocheja had recently visited the governor for the first time since the inception of the institution to intimate him of the progress and challenges facing the institution. The visit was facilitated by the member representing Nsukka Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency of the state in the National Assembly, Hon. Chidi Mark Obetta.
The governor, in his response to the requests presented by Senator Ocheja, further directed the State Commissioner for Education, Prof Ndubueze Mbah, to liaise with the authorities of the polytechnic to determine critical areas of needs in the institution where the state government could render support. He also promised to resolve the lingering issue of non-payment of compensation to land owners who had donated hectares of land for the permanent site of the institution.
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The governor further noted that the institution will be a highly valuable partnership for the realisation of the government’s science, technical and vocational capacity development of the youth under the Smart Green School Initiative of the administration which is expected to Produce no fewer than 260,000 technically inclined students annually.
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While commending the Polytechnic for it’s giant strides within it’s short period of existence noted that the state government has a robust scholarship scheme that will encourage youth in their academic endeavours
Senator Ocheja had in his presentation highlighted the achievements recorded by the institution within five years of its existence, especially in the commencement of academic programme, accreditation of some courses by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and subsequent admission of students across four Schools. He also recounted the building of classroom blocks through TETFund sponsorship, and sought the support of the state government and other stakeholders in addressing the challenge of low students’ enrolment facing the institution.
“Our polytechnic was designed to bridge skills gap, expand access to quality technical education and empower our youths to become self-reliant contributors to national and state development”, he noted.
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The Council Chairman noted that the Polytechnic took cognizance of the Enugu landscape and keyed into the state government’s policy initiative to produce skilled graduates that would become the drivers of technical development. He lauded the governor for prioritising education as the pillar of the government’s development initiatives, describing the allocating of a whopping 33 percent of the state’s annual budget to the education sector as remarkable.
“A thriving Federal Polytechnic Ohodo would produce skilled, job-ready graduates who directly fuel your agenda for industrial growth, entrepreneurship and a knowledge driven economy, thereby complementing your Smart Green Schools and new Science Technical and Vocational (STV) institutions”, he explained.
The Council Chairman applauded the ultra-modern Science, Technical and Vocational schools constructed by the Mbah administration in each of the 260 wards of the state as legacy projects capable of turning the state into a hub of science and technical growth. According to him, these transformative efforts resonate with the core mandate of the Federal Polytechnic Ohodo, tailored to equip young Nigerians with the practical, industry-related skills that drive job creation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic growth.
The Chairman said 105 hectares of land had been secured for the permanent site of the institution, but noted that no compensation was paid to the land owners. He noted that the host community had approached the management of the Polytechnic with their reservations and appealed to the governor to use his good office to resolve this matter and ensure requisite compensation for these land owners.
Senator Ocheja had earlier commended the federal government for the strong emphasis on Technical Vocational Entrepreneurship Training (TVET). He said the FedPoly Ohodo was laid on the foundation of human capital development initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, geared to achieve unhindered access to education through Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) and other social investments.
He listed some of the critical challenges confronting the institution as inadequate infrastructure, particularly access roads at both the take-off site and the permanent site; lack of reliable electricity, water supply, lecture halls, modern laboratories, workshops, offices, student hostels, an auditorium, and a convocation arena.
Aside members of the Council, top Management staff of the polytechnic, including the Rector, Dr Emmanuel Agada, were in attendance during the visit.
