A polytechnic is a technical institution offering post-secondary technical education programmes leading to the award of certificates National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND). While the HND is equivalent to a university degree, there are some who would want to ascribe the inferior status to the HND but this is not the subject of our discourse. Not today.
In this article, we will be looking closely at the rectors of all the Federal Polytechnics in the southeast of Nigeria which is the highest position in a polytechnic institution.
Rector of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana, Ebonyi State
Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana is located in Unwana city, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The polytechnic was established in 1981 and is owned by the federal government. Was named after Akanu Ibiam, the First Republic Governor of Eastern Region, Nigeria.
The position of rector is currently occupied by Ven. Dr. Ogbonna Ibe-Enwo.
Brief background profile: Ven. Dr. Ogbonna Ibe-Enwo hail from Mgbom in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
He attended the Government secondary school Afikpo, after his secondary education he further his education obtaining his first degree in Mathematics from University of Nigeria Nsukka, Masters degree in Computing from University Northumbria at Newcastle and he also obtained Doctor of Science (Honours of Causa) from the London Graduate School.
Professional Career: Until his appointment as the rector of Akanu Ibiam Polytechnic, Ogbonna once held several positions in various institution such as, lecturer for Mathematics and Computer Science the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede Owerri, Head of Department of Maths/Statistics of the Akanu Ibiam Polytechnic.
He was once the Dean of School of Science and General Studies of Akanu Ibiam polytechnic. In 2014, the Venerable was made the Rector of Akanu Ibiam polytechnic. He is also a Venerable Archdeacon of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Diocese of Afikpo.
Rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo State
The Federal Polytechnic, Nekede is a federal government-owned higher institution located in Nekede, Owerri West local government area in Imo State, South-Eastern Nigeria. It was established 1978 and one of the most popular federal government owed polytechnic in the southeast of the country and the rector position is occupied by Rev. Engr. Dr. Michael Arimanwa.
Background history: Rev. Engr. Dr. Michael Arimanwa is a native Obazu Mbieri, in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. Michael obtained his primary and secondary certificate from W. T. C. Primary school, Enugu in 1976 and Government Secondary School, Owerri in 1982 respectively.
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Due to his strong desire to acquire Knowledge, he enrolled into the Federal Polytechnic Owerri to obtain National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in civil engineering, he later proceed to Federal University of Technology Owerri to obtain a Bachelor in Engineering.
He also acquired M. ENG in Structural engineering and PhD. in structural Engineering.
Professional Life: Rev. Engr. Dr Michael Arimanwa is a COREN registered Civil Engineer and also a corporate member of both the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers. In 2011, he was made a Chief Lecturer in Civil engineering Department, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede.
Before he was appointed as Rector of the polytechnic he once served as the Dean School of Engineering Technology, also as Director Monitoring and Evaluation Unit and as Acting Director, Works and Services Division.
On 3 October 2018, Rev. Engr. Dr. Micheal Arimanwa was inaugurated as the 8th Rector of the Polytechnic also becoming the first Alumnus Rector of the institution.
Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State
Federal Polytechnic, Oko is a Nigerian polytechnic located in Oko, Orumba North LGA of Anambra State. It was established in 1979, the institution is one of the fastest developing tertiary institutions in Nigeria with high futuristic disposition. The office of Rector of Oko polytechnic is currently occupied by Dr. Francisca Unoma Nwafulugo, yes you read the name right a female.
Background profile about Dr Francisca: Dr. Francisca hail from Idemili South in Anambra State. In 1985, Francisca obtained her west Africa school certificate, in 1991 she obtained her Higher National Diploma from Institute of Management and Technology (IMT).
Her desire for education lead her to obtain M. Engr in Chemical Engineering in 2002 from Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State and also her PhD Chem. Engineering in 2014 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.
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Professional Career: Dr. Nwafulugo is a member of the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and also Society of Chemical Engineers (NSCHE). Before her appointment as the rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko.
Dr. Francisca was a chief lecturer at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Kaduna Polytechnic. In February 4, 2019, she was made the first female substantive Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko.
Rector of Federal Polytechnic Ohodo, Enugu State
Federal Polytechnic Ohodo, Enugu State is a newly established Federal Polytechnic in the southeast of the country was established in 2021 by President Buhari.
The institution rector is Prof. Edwin Onyeneje.
Background: Prof. Edwin Onyeneje born October 24, 1960 in Ebe, is a Ebe, lga Udi in Enugu State, he attained his primary and secondary education certificate in Central School in 1975 and Community Secondary School Udi in 1980 respectively.
He went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nigeria Nsukka in 1986 and Mont Clair State University New Jersey, USA.
Professional Career: All career have to start from somewhere in life, for Edwin it started as a auxillary teacher right after his secondary certificate and he worked in that position for two years. He once served as the Registrar in the Institute of Ecumenical Education, Enugu, also a one-time Rector of Institution of Management and technology and deputy Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye university.
He’s a member of the Nigerian Psychological Association, Thinking and Issues in Scientific Research, Psycho consult, Elements of Learning Processes, Century Publishers, Enugu and The Foundations of Social Psychology, Auto-Century Publishers. Upon the establishment of the federal polytechnic he was appointed as the rector of the institution.
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Written by Gabriel Eresiobi, Umudike
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