…as Dorben emerges winner in ND, HND categories of Nat’l Practical Competition
By Joseph Erunke, Abuja
Renowned educationist and founder of Dorben Polytechnic, Abuja, Dr Akpan Ekwere, has faulted some education policies initiated by the federal government, saying they were harming polytechnic education in the country.
The American-trained accountant, who boasted that he had so far singlehandedly trained 76 chattered accounts after their HND from Dorben, one of the leading first-generation private polytechnics in the country, regretted that the government had relegated polytechnics education to the background contrary to the dreams of the founders of polytechnics.
He spoke just as Dorben Polytechnic Abuja emerged winner in the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma categories of the National Practical Competition, organised by the Committee of Deans of Engineering of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology, COMPODET, during the 32nd Engineering Assembly, held in Abuja.
Dr Ekwere, an advocate of technical education, particularly picked a hole in the new policy of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, that permits polytechnic graduates to join professional associations before being eligible for mobilisation in the one-year mandatory scheme of the federal government.
He pointed out that non-recognition of polytechnic education by the government through some unfriendly policies had negatively impacted graduates of polytechnic as according to him, they are mostly prioritised during employment opportunities.
Ekwere, who was visibly elated over the feat recorded by his school, however, regretted that despite several interventions by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, NYSC has not rescinded its decision which he noted, was against polytechnic education.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after a mini ceremony held for the official presentation of the winners and certificates of the competition to the Dorben Polytechnic Governing Board at the institution’s council chamber, Dr Ekwere said, “I’m very happy, extremely happy and proud that I have achieved the purpose God called me to this assignment.
” As a proprietor, to just sit down and watch your students going out to compete in a nation and return with trophies, I feel so good. I am very happy and I will be praying for them.
“This achievement is very important to me because for us to get a first position with all the federal and state polytechnics all around, I’m very happy.”
Noting that the polytechnic education had been relegated to the background, he called on the government to allow the polytechnic to thrive to fulfil the technical manpower needs of the nation.
He said:”The Executive Secretary of NBTE has been fighting a lone battle, that the government should recognize the position of polytechnics in this country, that we (polytechnics) are technical institutions training these children to man the technical manpower of this nation. We are the pivot of the educational development of this nation. But when someone graduates from a polytechnic, they would say we won’t employ him because he doesn’t have a degree, it doesn’t make sense. The important thing is that can they do the job.
” Polytechnics are practical oriented, that is why polytechnics are all out for practical oriented technologies. Entrepreneurship, that is what we are doing now. They just sit down there because they passed through university and they want everybody to pass through the university. How on earth can everybody in a nation pass through university and they don’t have the practical knowledge?
“The founding fathers of polytechnics or the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE knew very well the position of using hand and doing practical. That is why they are called polytechnics. They should not bring down the dignity of polytechnics because they are not the same as universities.
“Some of us graduated from abroad but my own was practically oriented. I don’t see any reason why they should sit down there in the office and say they should subject polytechnics to a second graduation after spending the same four years and one year of mandatory industrial training. This means they don’t mean well for the nation.
“These people in government passed through universities and they want everybody to pass through universities. They see polytechnic education as a second-class education which is wrong. These children are Nigerians, give them equal opportunities, and equal rights. After all, they all spend the same four years and the same one-year industrial training.”
The Chairman of Dorben Polytechnic earlier warmly received the victorious students, Isaiah Isaiah Bassey and Ekong Samuel, both of Cross River and AKwa Ibom State origins He congratulated them on their outstanding achievement, praising their hard work, teamwork, and innovative thinking.
During the event, the students who showcased exceptional skills and dedication, were hailed and handsomely rewarded as champions in the field of Engineering and Technology Innovations.
At the event,Dr Ekwere emphasized the importance of practical skills in today’s competitive world and commended the students for their commitment to excellence and ingenious dispositions
This heartwarming reception not only celebrated the students’ success but also reinforced the institution’s commitment to nurturing talent and fostering a culture of academic excellence.
Insisting that polytechnics were better positioned to deliver the nation’s manpower needs,Dr Ekwere bemoaned the unfair treatment of their graduates by government agencies, saying such action if allowed, would lead to the extinction of polytechnics in the country.
Hear him: “I just read something that NYSC said if you passed through polytechnics, you have to go and do a professional thing with speciality, just like, you have to go and do ICAN before you will do NYSC, have you ever heard about that? It looks like people are crazy in this country. They are frustrating Nigerians and that is why many of them are running away to other countries.
” They even said if you passed through polytechnics, you have to go and do science laboratory profession before they can mobilise you for NYSC. Have you ever heard that? I have never heard in my life, that you have to register for a professional association before NYSC. I can tell you that it has nothing to do with professionalism. I can decide not to be a professional. I can decide to get that degree and be a palm wine tapper in my village but let me do the NYSC that is mandated. What I would do is none of their business. Why are you punishing these children? Some of them were rejected in the camp despite all the NBTE Executive Secretary had explained to them, they didn’t want to listen! What is wrong with this nation, that they want to destroy everything?
It doesn’t make any sense for a child to do four years in the polytechnic and one year of industrial training and you said he should go and join a professional association before he comes back for NYSC, does that make sense to you? Am I the one who set up the standard for HND? When that standard was set, nobody said you should go to join a professional body before you join NYSC. Why turn around to frustrate these children? It is terrible! Almost all the policies are anti-education.”
While also faulting the conversion of some polytechnics and colleges of education to universities, he explained that polytechnics in the country have lived above expectations to be allowed to function well.
“Converting polytechnics and colleges of education to universities is wrong. Polytechnics in particular have lived above expectations but what they are doing is just bitterness because they want everybody to have degree like India. They should leave the polytechnic education the way it is. I have trained 76 chattered accountants after their HND. They went to NYSC took the ICAN examination and passed. It didn’t stop them from joining NYSC, they passed. What we inculcated in them was enough for them to pass ICAN . NYSC should stop all this rubbish they are doing by frustrating our children, that they have to join professional bodies before serving in the NYSC,” he added.
The post Government policies killing polytechnic education, says Ekwere appeared first on Vanguard News.
