By: Ohanele Casca 08134192508
It is always said that a golden fish has no hidden place. Wherever geniuses they are they will always be identified and honoured. That was the case recently when the Alumni Association of Federal Polytechnic Nekede under the dynamic leadership of Engr. Dr Iheakam, a pioneer student of the institution, gave a surprise package to the Rector of their Alma Mater, Dr Mrs C.Njoku.
When people who know the past of an institution and have followed very critically its present state with a vision of what is expected in the future, give a sitting administrator an Award that has never been conferred on any person of that status, such event and commendation is not a mean feat. At the 1000 capacity auditorium built by the recipient before the representatives of the Honourable Minister of Education, the National Board for Technical Education, members of school governing council, under the watchful and approving eyes of staff and students, in the presence of traditional rulers and dignitaries from the Polytechnic host communities, before members of the press and general public, conferred on Dr Mrs Celectina Njoku, the indefatigable, prudent, dynamic, transformational administrator per excellence, the humble publicity shy rector of Federal Polytecnic Nekede, the Award as the National Grand Patron of Alumni Association of Federal Polytechnic Nekede.
The Award becomes more unique considering the fact that it is an honour bestowed by those who have seen past and present of the institution. It is also unique in the sense that it was not given due to any financial inducement by the recipient but anchored on her performance in public service. Another interesting part of the Alumni’s gesture is the fact that the recipient had no pre knowledge of the award. Yet another significant aspect of the award is that in most cases award recipients is expected to donate money in appreciation to the awarding body but in the case of Dr Mrs Njoku, the same Alumni made a huge donation of N1.5Million in support of the rector and in appreciation of her infrastructural, environmental and human capacity transformation of Federal Polytechnic Nekede.
The Award and the investiture by the National President of the Alumni, Engr Dr Iheakam was presented thus: Dr Mrs Njoku has indeed made us proud as Alumni. We know how our school was before she took over as rector and in just two years, our Alma Mater has become the cleanest, most conducive and most talked after in terms infrastructural development among polytechnics in the federation. On behalf of the Alumni, we unanimously confer on you an investiture as the National Grand Patron of our great association. It is the first time a sitting rector of this institution will be so honoured and you are the first ever female administrator to be unanimously bestowed as grand patron of the association. In support of your achievements, we are making a cash donation of N1.5Million to our Alma Mater. Part of the delegate included the immediate past Chairman of Imo NUJ, Chief Dr Fidel Onyeneke and Desmond Oparaku. This gesture by the Alumni aroused the surprised rector who appreciated them with a song, “what a mighty God we serve”
The remarkable show of solidarity by the Alumni was trailed by reactions from some traditional rulers of the host community,The Omadike of Umuoma Nekede, showered encomiums on the humble rector. The revered traditional ruler said that Dr Mrs Njoku is an achiever, a responsible daughter who has done so well for humanity stressing that the royal fathers are proud to be associated with her. He called for support from all the communities in Nekede for the rector assuring that very soon, the rector will be honoured by the traditional institution for the transformation she has brought to Federal Polytechnic.
Honourable Minister of Education was not left out as her representative; Hajia Rokiya Iliyasu who started by saying that “nobody is perfect”, commended the Alumni for their foresight noting that the rector, Dr Mrs Njoku is a leader they are well pleased with as her achievements are in tandem with the vision of the federal government and the minister in the area of infrastructural and human development. She called on the people of host community to always give the rector their support stressing that people do not know the value of what they have until they loose it. Hajia Iliyasu berated those who enjoy bringing others down to sheath their swords and work together with the rector who she said God has deemed fit to place in charge of the school.
In his own remarks, Mr Joseph Aboi of National Board for Technical Education expressed satisfaction on the level of development in the Polytechnic stressing that the school has one of the best rectors in the entire federation. He gave kudos to the Alumni for identifying with progress as he also advised petition writers to seize and try to resolve issues internally than destroying one another. He commended the rectors large heart in drawing her opponents closer which he said is a mark of a good Christian and a good leader.
I have taken time to put down these views as a spice to what is to be unravelled. In Igbo land we say; “Ihe mere ede ji bee nwii” meaning (something unique made cocoyam to produce unique sounds.) Dr Mrs Njoku since assumption of office last two years has been receiving awards day in day out. She has also been receiving commendation from the apex leadership of the country for no other reason but for distinguished public service, for meticulous management of men and resources and for bringing positive ideas novel in the Federal Polytechnic Nekede. It is on the weight of these achievements that she is who she is today.
I do not intend to bore my readers with the litany of achievements made by this lady fondly called Mummy by staff and students but for perspective purposes, it will serve better to lead you into the account of stewardship of Dr Mrs Njoku. At the recent 2012 General Assembly she presented her score card. The gazette of achievements mentioned challenged me to go for more verification. I took a trip of the institution and all that were mentioned were verified. I interviewed staff and students and their verdict was excellent and as a journalist, I felt I owe the public the duty to put them on the know. That is the intention of this write up. I have not come to praise Madam but I have come to state facts as they are for posterity.
It was Cardinal de Retz a French ecclesiastic and churchman who said that “one of man’s greatest failings is that he looks always for an excuse in the misfortune that befalls him, before looking for a remedy—which means he often finds the remedy too late”. But for the rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Dr Mrs C Njoku, the volume of challenges she met at her assumption of office which included poor infrastructure, low morale of workforce, insecurity at the campus, forgotten human capacity development, environmental degradation, abuse of power by some staff and so many other gargantuan problems, did not deterred her, she moved to confront and immediately found the remedy on time. Today those challenges have become history.
She was initially faced with attacks from those who ought to have given her quick support; she rather quickly went straight to work to prove detractors wrong. In a very short time, she moved most of her critics to her side as her ardent supporters by the quality of work she has been doing and even achieving success with those many would have expected she will be victimizing.
According to Dr Mrs Njoku, “petition writers and critics strengthen and help her to be awake and always ensure there is oil in her lantern so as to be ready when the bridegroom will arrive.” This view by the prudent manager of human and material resources is a sign of her humility which is very rare in most leaders. That her disposition does not warrants destructive criticism rather it welcomes constructive suggestions that are geared towards a better administration at Federal Polytechnic Nekede. It is the majority opinion that many of the hard knocks the rector has received were misguided, fabricated to misinform and create bad blood against a leader that people have attested to her accountability stature in leadership.
It was Harry Truman a former USA President that said, “Do your duty and history will do you justice”. The rector of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede has in just two years of being in the saddle, done a lot that history will surely be just to her. Many newspaper publications have carried at different times the report of her transformation in infrastructural and human development, her winning wars against corruption and social vices in the great Poly Nekede, her environmental revolution at the campus and lots more. National Assembly have not failed to notice her prudence and exceptional leadership qualities in the judicious management of funds.
In this part of our world, accountability by leaders is very scary as many discover that they have not done enough to raise their heads. On assumption of office by Dr Mrs Celestina Njoku fondly called Mummy by staff and students because of her openness and motherly audience whenever they come with their problems, initiated General Assembly a forum for cross fertilization of ideas and channel of letting staff and students to know the vision, mission, progress and challenges of the polytechnic for a sound interaction with management on crucial issues affecting the school.
At the recent General Assembly of the school held at the 1000 capacity auditorium which happens to be one of her landmark achievements, she gave an account of her stewardship to members of the governing council of the school, staff and students, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education and National Board for Technical Education and members of the host community represented by some traditional rulers.
It will surprise many that the publicity shy Rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Dr Mrs Njoku in just two years in the saddle has sort and gotten accreditation for two new programmes namely: ND Computer Engineering and HND Electrical Electronics Engineering. She has also presented Hospitality Management, Chemical Engineering for resource visitation by NBTE. The rector has established a catering service unit in the campus and has put into use 1000 capacity meat-pie baking oven abandoned by previous administration.
In the area of health, she gave the school medical centre a facelift, providing it with power generating set, operating bed, brand new ambulance and dressing the nurses with uniform. The liaison offices of Federal Polytechnic at Abuja and Owerri was acquired and furnished to taste by her administration. The Public Relations Unit received a boost with new hands to man digital camera, video recording machine. The indefatigable PRO of the Polytechnic has not failed in living up to his bid as his unit has been of tremendous benefit to the image of the school. Kudos should be given to Mr PRO.
In other areas, her administration initiated and constituted a governing board each for the institution’s evening and weekend programmes. It would be hard to believe that a school that have existed for more than 34years had no perimeter fence but this present administration has changed all that. The school today has a perimeter fence to boost security of lives and properties. Today, the security department has taken delivery of 2mini-buses, 2Hilux Jeeps, 1 Camry, 2Rio cars, 1 Project Hilux Jeep all courtesy of Dr Mrs Njoku’s administration.
Today, she has implemented a new culture of ensuring that all convocating students especially HNDs, leave with their certificates on the day of convocation. She has established a functional work aid centre where the school produce their furniture and produce blocks from the school’s industry.
Since her assumption of office, the academic calendar has been kept and state of the art facilities provided for Architecture Department. She has carried along those who contested the rector position with her in the administration which has ensured peaceful coexistence. For the first time in history of the Polytechnic, a member of the host community is appointed in the governing council of the school. More than 124 Academic Gowns for the council, principal officers and academic board has been procured by the present administration. Fish pond for fisheries department has been constructed. She has embarked on the re-grassing of the school football field and establishment of bottled water plant for the school which when completed will help students work and earn money while schooling.
Dr Mrs Njoku blocked all financial loopholes in the school and increased the Internal Revenue Generation. To cap that feat, the National Assembly voted Federal Poly Nekede as the best in Internally Generated Revenue among all tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Using the funds from IGR, she has achieved the construction of the following: modern Polytechnic bookshop, Nursery and Primary schools phase 1&II, Bursary building, evening and weekend programme building. She also rehabilitated and drilled boreholes, installed power generating sets, fabrication and erection of pressed steel tanks for primary and secondary reticulation. She also use the IGR to furnish Rectory Block building, restore and upgrade ICT facilities in the school, complete and decorate the registry block building and other infrastructure which include the said perimeter fencing of the school among others.
Through funding of ETF, the present management completed the construction of classroom blocks, studios and staff offices and furnishing of same. She constructed the much talked about 500 capacity lecture theatre and offices for school of Industrial and Applied Sciences, standard fabrication and machine workshop which is first of its kind for the school of Engineering Technology. The present administration under the leadership of the exemplary and quintessential manager of man and resources, Dr Mrs C. Njoku, has positively touched all facets of the Federal Polytechnic life within the last two years.
The rector has approved overseas and national conferences/workshops for many staff both academic and non academic. She has also embarked on capacity building programme aimed at achieving computer literacy for staff and students of the Polytechnic. This is to equip the staff with the necessary skills as the school intends to make computer literacy a basic requirement for employment of staff and promotion in the near future.
In the area of E- Learning, the ICT facilities at Federal Poly Nekede has not only been adjudged the best but that Dr Mrs Njoku’s midas touch has made remarkable success that the National Assembly has also voted that Nekede Poly is the only institution that is ready for the CBT Exam for 2013.
Her achievement in the area of e-learning was instrumental to two members of the polytechnic staff being the only participants from Nigeria at the recently concluded world e-learning conference. For that exceptional support, Federal Poly has been nominated to present papers at the forthcoming e-learning African conference in Namibia.
It is in the best interest of staff and students to rally round their champion to move Federal Poly forward. As part of her address during the general Assembly, Dr Mrs Njoku called on students to eschew violence and avoid those conducts that are inimical to learning. She also called for the cooperation of all, staff, students, host communities and the general public in ensuring the best for the institution as together; all challenges facing the school will be surmounted.
The achievements of the rector who has been acknowledged as the champion of infrastructural development in the school, an anti corruption crusader, a moralist, a human capacity development activist ignited the arena of the general Assembly when she announced an increment of 400% and 350% of Xmas bonuses for junior and senior staff respectively.
All her achievements in her two years in office she attributed to the unprecedented sound working relationship she has enjoyed with the Alumni Association of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede under the leadership of Engr Dr Ben Iheakam. She noted that her administration has also enjoyed solid support of ASUP, NASU, SSANIP, FEPNOWA, WITED and members of the host communities. Special mention was made of the fatherly role of HRH Eze Godwin Merenini, HRH Eze Omadike 1 of Umuoma, HRH Eze Morris Ekeh, HRH Eze Muruako and other traditional rulers of Owerri West and their cabinet for their positive contribution in the affairs of the institution.
Having achieve much, there are no doubt of challenges. Poor funding to enable the school tackle some pressing needs has been a big concern for the rector who is in a haste to develop Poly Nekede. The need for the host community to buy completely into the vision of the present administration must not be over emphasised. The lecturers need to develop the mentoring spirit on students and ensure compliance with the marking and submission of script policy of the present administration. On the issue of documentation, following the volume of achievement going on, there is need for a periodic strategic documentation of programmes, achievements, challenges, visions and missions of the institution with the view to enlightening the public on the day to day events with facts and figures in line with international best practice. If you don’t say you exist, no one will do it for you.
Be that as it may, it is expected that those who are saddled with responsibilities must give accounts of their stewardship to the people. I have given out a tip of the Ice berg of the volume of achievements by a public servant and solicit that our politicians, religious leaders and public servants must emulate the leadership accountability of the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Dr. Mrs C Njoku’s example
