From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Dr Agbabiaka Adegoke has stated that the institution is equipped as one of the best institutions in Nigeria, when it comes to strength of facilities and human resources.
Adegoke who stated this over the weekend during the 2nd International Multi-Disciplinary Conference, 2024 with the theme: Exploring Local Discoveries in Science, Technology and Vocational Research: A Panacea for Industrial Development and Economic Growth in Nigeria held in the conference hall of the Federal Polytechnic Ekowe Liaison Office, Opolo Yenagoa, disclosed that the Institution has secured a lot of equipment in microbiology, Engineering, Geometric among others.
While noting that the conference is the second, he added that the Institution has a lot of human resources coupled with necessary facilities for learning.
He said that the Institution has designed programmes and that its certificate is widely accepted within Africa stressing that Ekowe polytechnic has been given the opportunity to go into manufacturing of some products.
“We have purchased about 300 computers for our examination in our Ekowe Campus. And we equally have facilities that will help the indigenous people of Ekowe community.
“A lot of things are going on there and we have constant power supply in all our offices and hostels.
“Our petroleum engineering department has been accredited while most of our programmes have been fully accredited,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Franklin Agada, Chairman Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, said as an academia they must develop themselves in all areas of discipline.
He commended all those that attended the event especially representatives from the Federal Government, Bayelsa government adding that continuous training is a priority.
Agada called for support from the Bayelsa government, to uplift the institution to be able to sustain its standards for the students of the institution.
The ASUP Chairman, who said research has played a crucial role in the lives of Nigerians, said it is crucial for the growth of Nigeria’s economy.
In his address, the Speaker Bayelsa House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, commended ASUP for the initiative of the conference.
Represented by Dr Ebiere Jones, a former Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Inogbere said the problem is that there is no linkage between the industries and higher institutions which affects economic growth.
He urged the institutions to come out with research products that can generate power as Nigeria is being faced with power problems.