The Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa, is on a path of continued growth in spite of the challenges posed by the terrain, an official has said.
Mr Steve Otobo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Thursday that the oil and gas-focused tertiary institution has in the past one year made giant strides under the new management.
Otobo noted that the polytechnic, located in the oil rich Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, has reversed the trend where parents from the area and other parts of Bayelsa sent their children to school in neighboring states.
Otobo, a principal officer and bursar of the institution, noted that the current management led by the Rector, Dr Lukman Agbabiaka, was embarking on projects to create a conducive learning environment for staff and students.
He said that Agbabiaka bought large-capacity passenger boats to convey staff and students from Angiama to Ekowe, as well as refurbished vehicles hitherto considered as unserviceable.
“The Ekowe Polytechnic is gradually being transformed to meet the vision of the Federal Government to bring technical education to the creeks and provide requisite skills to the youth in oil communities.
“Unlike before when students preferred to go outside, we have seen the student population grow in leaps and bounds and the polytechnic is now a preferred choice for students seeking admission,” Otobo said.
According to Otobo, the rector got solar-powered inverters to provide uninterrupted power in the institution.
He said the rector also furnished the laboratories.
Otobo applauded the rector for the prudent management of scare resources which had enabled the school to achieve more in ongoing renovation of facilities.
He expressed optimism that when the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubiye road is completed, the polytechnic would be accessible by road and end the current difficulties associated with boat transportation.
According to him, the ongoing road project which has connected Angiama, a neighbouring community, has drastically reduced travel time to Ekeowe where the institution is sited.
