By: Ohanele Casca
To every Nigerian student who successfully graduated from a tertiary institution, a certificate is given that indicates that such a person has been found worthy both in learning and character. Unfortunately more attention is paid on the end result without asking how the students are groomed from the start. Heads of institutions overlook some of the basic foundation for students and concentrate on material requirements which only end up producing half baked graduates lacking in character. This is why when a head of an institution digresses from the bandwagon of emphasising only on certificate and pays attention on the rudiments of morality as sine qua non in building young people for challenges in life, such attempt should be highly commended.
At the 35th Matriculation of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede held on Thursday the 21st of February, 2013 a new vista in the life of the institution was given an impetus. The rector, Dr Mrs Celestina Njoku at the event which can be termed as Echoes of Values concentrated on the basic needs for a successful career in a higher institution. The rector who welcomed the matriculants and their guests noted that the day is special in the life of the students and their families as it marks the day God granted their desire of getting into the higher institution. She reminded them that many applied for admission but few were found qualified stressing that it has therefore become a challenge for them to make good use of the privilege by taking their studies seriously.
The unique feature of the matriculation was not the usual administration of oath on the matriculating students but the admonitions to students to be of good behaviour. The Rector anchored all she said on the food of life the Holy Scriptures. While reminding the matriculants of the rigours of passing the UMTE and PUTME Examinations Dr Mrs Njoku emphasised on the need for them to know why they have come to the Federal Polytechnic and what they are expected to go out with. Quoting from the book of Ecclesiastes 15:15 – 18 which reads: “If you wish you can keep the commandments to behave faithfully is within your power. He has set fire and water before you; put your hand to whichever you prefer; Man has life and death before him, whichever a man likes better will be given him.” With this biblical reference, the rector set the ball rolling noting that nobody is ignorant of the happening in the larger society which has influenced life in the campus. She stated that the higher institutions are full of different influences which could make or mar any students depending on what a person actually wants for himself or herself. The choice Dr Mrs Njoku stressed lies on the students to make.
Every success has a process. The rector did not keep any one in suspense in reminding all the new students that there are expectations from them which cannot be compromised. She hammered against indecent dressing, wearing of tattoos and other vices. She supported her position with the word of God that says that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and that any person with the fear of God does only what is pleasing in the eyes of God. She also discouraged students to avoid the temptation of competing financially which is one of the causes of armed robbery, kidnapping, prostitution and other vices among students.
The rector also did not mince words in her condemnation of cultism, occultism and exam malpractice as the punishment for them is expulsion. She also criticized littering of the campus, indecent talks, malingering and loitering at night as they are threat to the safety and security of students. These are concerns of a true mother and have been the character of the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Dr Mrs Clestina Njoku which has seen to her unequalled transformation at the institution since she assumed office.
It is said that when the righteous is in authority, the people will rejoice. This writer may say it over and over again. The Federal Polytechnic can never be the same again with what is happening in the school. New infrastructure springing up daily to tackle the needs for lecture rooms, staff offices and other conveniences, all to the credit of Dr Mrs Njoku. The rector has gone a step further and one can say without sounding immodest that a new order has come at the Poly Nekede that cannot be found in any other higher institution east of the Niger. To ensure that students of Federal Poly graduate with not only the skills learnt in different programmes, Dr Mrs Njoku and her team went a step further to prepare students to be self reliant. They created the first of its kind entrepreneurship centre which is approved by National Board for Technical Education and that will help students acquire functional skills that will enable them live a fulfilling and flourishing life upon graduation or while they are still in school in different areas. Programmes at the centre include: bead making, baking, sewing, fabrication, undertaking job, music, arts, fishery, speech writing, dancing, and decoration, catering among others. This concept is only obtainable at the University of Lagos.
There is no doubt that the administration of Dr Mrs Njoku has positively touched the life of the entire polytechnic community and yet determined to do more. Therefore the 35th matriculation of the Polytechnic which happens to be the third since she took over the mantle of leadership is unique. The first was the enunciation of her vision and mission as the first female rector of Poly Nekede and her resolve to be a mother to all and uphold the vision of the founding fathers to engage in the intellectual development of the people. Madam has indeed consolidated and lived up to her promise. She has brought on one page all interest and today they are all working for the interest of the institution. Her assessment is not an external impression as students and staffs has their take on the manner of person Dr Mrs Njoku is.
When one of the students of Nekede, young Miss Onyekachi Ogu, was asked to describe her rector in just one paragraph, she had this to say: “Indeed Mummy is an ideal mother. She has transformed the institution since these three years as the first female rector of this great institution. As they say, what a man can do a woman can do even better, she has shown it in her leadership that she is a role model to every Nekedite. Her word of advice is a solid step for every student that wishes to succeed in life. My experience with her as a student of this great institution has thought me a lot. I urge her to continue with the good work she is doing in this great monumental citadel of learning”.
This piece is not about the rector but about her efforts at improving on what has been handed over to her. It is about her approach to issues that concerns the future of the young generation. It is all about how she has mentored her students. It is all about how she is doing things in unique way. At this year’s matriculation, the rector did surprise everybody ones again with her compassionate heart when she announced a scholarship award to a matriculated disable student of the Business Administration Department, Chinonso D. Oguguo. She also gave cash donations to about twenty matriculated female students in the Engineering department as a way of encouraging young ladies to go into technical careers. This year’s matriculation is also unique as it happened in the Lenten period.
The rector did not mince words in drawing the imports to staff and students. She stressed the need parents, staff and students to rededicate themselves to their ethical responsibilities. “As this matriculation is coming at the Lenten period, a time we reflect soberly and deeply on our life and make atonement to God, it is necessary that we all use this period in the life of Christians to rededicate ourselves to our ethical responsibilities as teachers, as parents and as students. It is a period of moral rebirth, a period we cleanse ourselves of all forms of immoral conducts and embrace the virtues of dignity and integrity” with this Lenten message from a Christian mother on a matriculation, it makes this 35th matriculation of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede a unique one anchored on Echoes of moral values. The matriculation was well planned and programmed. Security provided by the Man O War unit of the Federal Poly Nekede. The protocol was well organised as there was free flow of traffic with no incident of road mishap or stolen vehicle. All these go to show that when a well coordinated person is in charge, every other thing always fall in place a lesson to the Nigeria state.
