Valedictory Lecture: Rector, Fed Poly Nekede Owerri, calls for sustenance of ICT

By Eleugu Mgbemgasa… 

The Outgoing Rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Engr. Dr. Michael Chidiebere Arimanwa, says the Smart Campus Initiative his regime introduced and implemented has really improved digital teaching, learning, research and technological innovations and other social and commercial activities on the campus.

The Rector stated this when he addressed staff, students of the institution and guests during the Festschrift and Valedictory Lecture Series in his honour, held at the 1000- Capacity Auditorium on the campus, last week.

Arimanwa noted that Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri which is rated as one of the best polytechnics in the country had improved in teaching, learning, research and innovations because the school fully embraced the digitalization of academic and administrative apparatuses driven by the Smart Campus Initiative birthed by his administration.

According to the Rector,”the Management has placed a great premium on a smart approach to delivery of quality education and administrative services to the polytechnic community in particular and the wider public in general. These areas included the deployment of Information and Communication Technology infrastructure to the general management of the institution, staff training and development, innovative research, conference attendance and physical facilities”.

While observing that his administration was able to upgrade the infrastructure base and related devices, tools and equipment therein to the 21st Century state-of-art form, hinted that full digitalization of education and administrative gadgets driven by Smart Campus Initiative has transformed the processes of service delivery on the campus.

Arimanwa stressed that the Information Communication Technology, ICT, has also improved “efficient information management and dissemination, effective conduct of meeting of the Council, Management, Academic Board and Committees, access of the polytechnic community to e- library services, well coordinated e- learning and conduct of examinations in the CBT centre of the institution, sustainable automated staff and student records keeping, effective students admission and enrolment process such as seamless on-line screening and payment of tuitions and sundry fees among others”.

He thanked the staff and students for their support, love and encouragement so far hence he was able to achieve the things he achieved in his 5 years of being Rector of the polytechnic, even as he charged his successor to sustain the values in order to advance the campus.

Stating that the Rector has fulfilled almost everything he promised on assumption, Chairman, Organizing Committee on Publication of Festschrift Valedictory Public Lecture and Deputy Rector, Administration, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Dr. Uzoma Ibeaja, described the event as a great success.

“It is a sign that we are celebrating a great man who was focused, optimistic and had achieved almost everything he promised. He was the 8th Substantive Rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri. Arimanwa knew where he was going and what he wanted to achieve with the five- year tenured appointment. He launched his specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bouund Smart Campus Initiative for Federal Polytechnic Nekede. He was conscious of making a specific impact that can be both measured and achievable within the tenure granted him by the institution Act 2019 as amended. I believe the new Rector will sustain the tempore. Students should work hard to become more useful and responsible”, the Deputy Rector maintained.

The ceremony which was largely attended by people across board, witnessed series of lectures delivered by erudite scholars: Leonard Nnamdi Stanley Ekeh (Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman, Zinox Group), Prof. Chukwu Lucian Obinna and Dr. Ikechukwu Henry Ukweh with President of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu chairing it.