In a rare stride of academic innovativeness and excellence, the Federal Polytechnic Nekede under the leadership of Engr Dr Michael Arimanwa FNSE, has secured the approval of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to run six fresh programmes.
Essentially, these academic programmes are born out of the innovative ingenuity of the institution’s Rector aimed at developing capacity and expanding educational frontiers in the foremost institution of higher learning.
The six programmes are ND Animal Health and Production Technology, ND Welding and Fabrication Engineering Technology, HND Art and Design (Ceramics), HND Art and Design (Sculpture), HND Art and Design (Textile) and ND Printing Technology.
The beauty of these programmes well transcends the numerical boost they have given to the already existing 33 programmes run by the institution. This is because these courses are essentially credible, relevant, timely and economically viable, especially at a time when both the immediate society and global world are in need of manpower in the areas.
In a memo signed by Arc. Ngbede Ogor, Director of Polytechnic Programmes on behalf of the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof Idris Bugaje, the board gave the Federal Polytechnic Nekede nod to admit students in the aforelisted programmes effective 2021/2022 academic session.
The general public is therefore advised to take advantage of the phenomenal development to acquire the entrepreneurial skills which the six new programmes offer students.
It is remarkable that the commencement of six new programmes of entrepreneurial scope and dimension at the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, has once again, underscored the creative and excellent leadership style of its Rector, Engr Dr Michael Arimanwa, who is also a foremost alumnus of the institution.
Thus, it is evident that the cerebral and hardworking polytechnic boss wants his almamater to run courses that are closely tied to the manpower needs of the nation and beyond at a time like this.
A programme in Welding and Fabrication, for instance, is a much-sought-after one in Nigeria owing to infrastructural deficit on the one hand, and oil and gas development on the other.
In a few years from now, therefore, it is expected that the Federal Polytechnic Nekede would be a viable recruitment site for manpower by oil companies and organizations, who are in dire need of professionals in the programmes already scheduled by the institution.
It is also laudable that at a time when Nigerian oil companies are scouting for technicians in Welding and Fabrication, abroad, the Federal Polytechnic Nekede has come to the rescue, thus underpinning the nexus between education and development.
Since assuming office as 8th substantive Rector of the institution, it bears recalling Engr Dr Michael Arimanwa has always envisioned and established the Federal Polytechnic Nekede as a smart bastion of learning in every ramification, a fact which informs his unbundling of Computer Studies into six specialized programmes to meet the growing needs of the nation.
This shows that the polytechnic is on the vanguard of setting pace for a robust academic and developmental initiative and emancipation in Nigeria.
It is also highly commendable that under the pragmatic leadership of Engr Dr M.C. Arimanwa, the Federal Polytechnic Nekede has never lost any accreditation. And unlike other heads of institutions that have performed creditably well in accreditation visitations, the hardworking scholar cum Rector has gone beyond preparing for accreditations to breaking new grounds, having ingeniously developed curricular for new courses as well as introduced programmes that are on high demand locally and globally.
