The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Eduma Essien, has warned matriculating students of the polytechnic to shun all social vices such as cultism, examination malpractice, indecent dressing, drug abuse and taking of alcohol and others indecent behaviours that could truncate their academic pursuits.
The rector gave the warning at the 10th matriculation ceremony of the institution held at the Science Laboratory Technology Arena, on Saturday.
“For our matriculating students, I congratulate you for successfully gaining admission into this unique citadel of learning. I urge you to take your academics very seriously.
“Shun all vices like cultism, examination malpractice, indecent dressing, drug abuse, taking of alcohol and other things that will truncate your academics pursuits” Essien stated.
Essien who highlighted some of the key challenges confronting the institution, noted however that some steps have been taken since her appointment to address some of the challenges, adding that academic and non-academic activities are going on smoothly.
According to her, the management has reconstituted the academic board to bring in fresh ideas, adding that a skills acquisition centre will soon be established to commence the production of tissue paper, and furniture to generate IGR for the institution.
She also disclosed that the institution has also taken delivery of the finished Entrepreneurship Centre on the main campus that was built and abandoned for years as well as taken delivery of books to equip the libraries on the main and annex campuses among others.
On accreditation, she said that the management has made a request to the National Board for Technical Education for full accreditation of the following Programmes: Accountancy, Business Administration, Civil Engineering Technology, and Electronic and Electrical Engineering.
Others include Computer Engineering Technology and Science Laboratory Technology.
The Rector listed new programmes for resource inspection including HND Statistics, HND Computer Network, and Cloud Computing as well as HND Software and Web Development among numerous other programmes.
While noting that the challenges are numerous, she solicited the assistance of the federal government and all interventionist agencies including the Akwa Ibom State government to come to the aid of the Polytechnic.
She also called on security agencies and the host community to “provide adequate security for the protection of lives and property in the institution.”
