From Emmanuel Adeyemi Lokoja
History was made yesterday when the Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic , Lokoja, Dr Saliu Ogbo broke the jinx and organized the first Inaugural Lecture for the over 33 years old institution
In his address, the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Saliu Ogbo said the maiden Chief Lecturer Inaugural Lecture of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja marks another significant milestone in the academic development of the institution since he came on board as the Rector.
“This is because, for over three (3) decades of the academic stewardship of the Polytechnic, this is the first time stakeholders would gather to celebrate the academic journey and accomplishments of scholars who have contributed in leaps and bounds towards personal development and promoting the core values of the institution.
“This maiden inaugural lecture therefore marks the dawn of yet another significant era in our institution. It may interest you to know that, since assumption of office, we have scored so many “firsts” in the areas of efficient infrastructural provision, administrative revolution, academic advancement, moral rebirth, security architecture amongst others, all geared towards restoring the polytechnic to institutional preeminence.
“For the sake of reference, the roll call includes but not limited to:
” Successful holding of the 4th Combined Convocation Ceremonies of the Polytechnic on 6th January, 2024 after over ten (10) years that such took place in this Institution;
“Successful re-accreditation of 30 Programmes with full accreditation status by the National Board for Technical Education on 4th – 8th April, 2022. Indeed, it was historic in all ramifications as that was the first time the Polytechnic would ever present such number of programmes for reaccreditation and with a 100% resounding success;
“Construction, renovation and rehabilitation of student hostels and Perimeter fencing of the Female Hostels after over 5 years of off – campus residence;
“Aggressive construction, renovation and rehabilitation of lecture theatres, classroom and office blocks, Laboratories, workshops and studios across schools, departments and programmes in the Polytechnic;
“Remodeling and reconstruction of the Old Library Complex to a 30-bed Medical Centre as a replacement for a 3-bed sick bay we inherited;
“Aggressive erosion control by constructing drainages and walkway with dual benefit for traffic control particularly on the main campus;
“Equipping the Polytechnic Library with up – to – date textbooks, Journals and the component e – resource components;
“Concrete regulation and zero tolerance for unethical/sharp practices such as extortion and imposition of textbooks on students and frontal tackling of cultism, examination misconduct, indiscipline and other social vices; among others”
The Rector said the inaugural lecture was a another milestone by way of innovation geared towards strengthening academic excellence in the institution stressing that the milestone is the commencement and celebration of those that have attained the pinnacle of their promotion in the Polytechnic education system.
He said the Inaugural Lecture is an avowed commitment to advancing the frontiers of knowledge through sharing of experiences and didactic research endeavours in the respective fields of lecturers over the years.
“It is on this note that I wish to challenge our highly respected Chief Lecturers to take advantage of this opportunity to strengthen the positive narratives on our institution through frequent presentation of Inaugural Lectures.
“I heartily congratulate our Inaugural Lecturer, my dear brother and the immediate past Dean of the School of Management Studies, Dr. Joel Akowe, for accepting to take the lead in this epoch making academic voyage even as the Chairman of the Planning Committee” he added