OGHENETEJIRI NYERHOVWO
Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara was one of the three polytechnics that were established by the Chief James Onanefe Ibori’s
administration in the state.
The polytechnic was established alongside with Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Ukuand Delta State Polytechnic Ozoro through a bill that was signed into law by the then Governor James Onanefe Ibori in November 2002. The establishment of the polytechnic was the result of a partnership between the Delta State Ministry of Education and Westminster University, London.
The partnership gave birth to the Delta State Higher Education Project (DSHEP).
Located in the agricultural town of Otefe in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, the polytechnic like others, was established with a view to promoting entrepreneurial development initiative.
The core mandate of the Polytechnic is to train and empower graduates who will be highly successful professionals armed with all the sufficient skills that are critical to the work place of the 21st century.
From the statistics available, it has become an incontrovertible fact that the Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara has been growing in leaps and bounds since it was established 17 years ago with successive Rectors of the institution building on the achievements of his or her predecessor by making sincere efforts towards promoting academic and infrastructural growth and development of the polytechnic to the envy of all lovers of robust and qualitative polytechnic education in the country.
The incumbent Rector of the polytechnic, Engr. Prof. Emmanuel Ogujor (MNSE, MNIBE, COREN RGD, JP) who assumed duty about two years ago (March 29, 2017 to be precise), following his appointment by the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has obviously not left anyone in doubt with regards to his passionate commitment towards expanding the frontiers of academic growth and infrastructural development in the Polytechnic.
Prof. Ogujor who came to the Polytechnic with a well-articulated mindset aimed at taking Polytechnic education in the institution to a higher pedestal of academic glory, has done quite a lot by putting in place measures that have ultimately accelerated the tempo of sustainable development in the institution in line with the policies and programmes of the state government.
Speaking during the 17th matriculation ceremony of the Polytechnic, the Prof. Ogujor said that the Polytechnic Management has recorded significant achievements in the areas of human and infrastructural development index since he assumed the mantle of leadership in the citadel of learning. According to him, the Polytechnic Management has established a state-of-the-art ID card production unit in the Polytechnic; installed an OMR machine to mark post UTME examinations, mid- semester test and all General Studies examination to reduce stress and time wastage as well as full and complete digitalization of all the Polytechnic activities including online payment of school fees.
As a result of prudent management of resources, Pro. Ogujor said the Polytechnic was able to purchase an ambulance to improve the institution’s medical facilities as well as cater for students’ healthcare needs in the case of emergency, pointing out that the institution recorded full accreditation of 11 out of the 12 diploma programmes offered in the Polytechnic by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) including the establishment of Environmental Biology, Chemistry and Microbiology in the Department of Science Laboratory Technology.
The Rector disclosed that the Department of Accountancy has also been re-accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) to the effect that Accountancy graduates of the Polytechnic can now skip the preliminary stage of ICAN professional examinations, adding that the management of the Polytechnic has established Checkers Board to ensure the sanctity of results presented to the Academic Board for consideration and approval.
Other achievements of the Polytechnic since he became the Rector of the school according to him, included the inauguration of the Students Work Study Scheme with an initial workforce of 21 students that cuts across various schools in the Polytechnic, adding that “the scheme is unique because it enables students to work and study without compromising their academic pursuit.”
Speaking further, he said “we have merged Regular 1 and 2 examinations which are now written simultaneously in order to save time and cost and ensure quality. Hitherto, the examinations which normally last for eight weeks now take only three weeks. This has also helped to reduce examination malpractice occasioned by impersonation. Training and retraining of teaching and non-teaching staff both within and outside the country has received a boost through Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFund)intervention.”
The Rector who is recipient of several awards added, “the achievements so far recorded by my administration in the Polytechnic would have been impossible without the kind and strong support of the Polytechnic Visitor, the Executive Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa; the Commissioner, Ministry of Higher Education, Engr. Jude Sinebe and members of the Governing Council as well as management team of the Polytechnic.”
It is worthy to note that the achievements recorded by the Prof. Ogujor led administration has attracted attention from national and international agencies like the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) which recently designated the Polytechnic as one of the beneficiaries of the Commission’s support programme with a supply of 110 units of laptops with E- learning suites and 200 E-Pads with teaching, research and learning aids all of which have been distributed to both teaching and non-teaching staff of the Polytechnic.
It is also worthy to note that according to recent ranking done by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara is the best among the Delta State Higher Education Project (DSHEP) institutions. To many lovers of Polytechnic education, this feat, obviously, did not come as a surprise because of the high quality of manpower that are available in the Polytechnic. For one, the Rector of the institution, Engr. Prof. Ogujor seemed to have mounted the saddle of leadership at a crucial moment in the academic history of the vibrant institution. When he assumed duty, the intellectual enigma (Ogujor) took on the challenges he met on ground head on and he has succeeded in proving his mettle by turning round for good, the academic fortunes of the Polytechnic.
As a Professor of Power and Machines and a man of limitless courage, vision and a strong advocate of due process, one of the first things Prof.Ogujor did in the institution was to tackle the issue of power and electricity for the polytechnic. Prior to his appointment, the institution was spending N2 million on diesel monthly to power the three generating plants that were available. Having seen this as a colossal waste of resources, he decided to link two out of the three generators to one grid, a development that has now made the institution to spend N700,000 on diesel monthly instead of a whopping N2 million, what a way to save scarce resources for the institution.
Speaking on the reason for the phenomenal rise in the institution’s profile, the Public Relations Officer of the polytechnic, Mr. Wilberforce Ofotokun is quick to say that the Governing Council of the Polytechnic, Chaired by Chief Barr. Andy Osawota is very well constituted, coupled with the fact that the institution is blessed with the best crop of Principal Officers who has demonstrated patriotic commitment to the development of the institution.
From the foregoing, it is crystal clear that Prof. Ogujor has passionately carved a befitting niche for Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara to the extent that the institution has, unarguably become one of the most sought after Polytechnics not only in the South-South Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria but in the entire country. He has given polytechnic education its pride of place in the nation’s quest for technological advancement through the monumental innovations that his administration has brought to the institution which are in line with the educational policy thrust of Delta State government under the leadership of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.
