The Changing Face Of Taraba State Polytechnic, Suntai
Taraba State Polytechnic is one of the fastest growing institutions in Nigeria.
In this piece, ANDREW OJIH takes a look at at the steady and uninterrupted growth in the Polytechnic under the leadership style of its Acting Rector, Dr Amos Agbu.
The Taraba State Polytechnic in Suntai, like most other academic institutions in the state has, no doubt, suffered serious infrastructural deficit over the years with staff, including the rector inhabiting offices that were devoid of conveniences even as the institution once looked like an abandoned community secondary school.
The current steady and uninterrupted growth in the Polytechnic under the leadership of Dr Agbu Amos as the acting rector is a boost to the economic activities of the host communities
Dr Amos Agbu Rector, Taraba State Polytechnic
Some residents of Jalingo, Taraba state Capital who spoke with Blueprint, lauded the Acting Rector for within few months in acting capacity, used his vast experience in providing infrastructural development to the institution thereby giving room for expansion of economic activities.
Mr Bala Danbachi who expressed satisfaction noted that Dr Amos Agbu has made a good turn around in the history of the Polytechnic that makes it a first class institution.
He noted that his achievements so far have earned the institution national and international recognitions.
His efforts to transform the institution led to the recent visit of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) team on resources inspection exercise.
The Commissioner of education, Dr. Augustina Godwin while speaking during the inspection exercise appreciated the NBTE team for choosing Taraba Polytechnic Suntai for this significant exercise.
She commended Governor Kefas for his efforts towards the advancement of education in Taraba State, which includes his quest to offer Tarabans free education in public primary and secondary schools, and the reduction of school fees in tertiary institutions in the state.
She thanked the Governor for his commitment to the development of education and expressed hope that the outcome of the NBTE exercise would positively impact the future of Taraba’s children and empower the Polytechnic to compete globally.
The acting Rector Dr. Amos Agbu in his speech extended his gratitude to Governor Kefas and the Commissioner Godwin Augustina for their dedication to improving the education sector.
He hinted that the Kefas led administration is committed to provide quality education in Taraba State, noting that the importance of the NBTE inspection in ensuring the polytechnic meets the required standards is commendable.
The NBTE team zonal director Northeast, Mallam Abdurrahman Muazu while speaking during the inspection exercise, commended the efforts of Governor Kefas and the polytechnic management in driving educational development in the state.
He said the inspection exercise will be thorough and fair, with the aim of improving the quality of technical education in the Polytechnic.
In a similar developments, in few months of acting as the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Agbu Amos’s synergy with Tertiary Education Trust Funds (TETFund) has also changed the narratives of the institution.
The Polytechnic under Dr Amos has witnessed drastic infrastructural transformation, with more befitting buildings and conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.
Nevertheless, with the help from TETfund, decent and befitting office spaces for lecturers and other staff of the polytechnic have been provided.
The institurion’s Director of Works, Mr Samuel told this medium that before now, the situation was actually very bad.
“In most cases, we had to rush home in the middle of the day to use conveniences at home or other public conveniences. And because the offices were also very small, we had to stockpile documents and other things such that the offices were simply chocking. It was hell working under these conditions back then.
“With the provision of these new offices now, there are times I simply work till very late in the night without even realising how late it is. The offices now are habitable, spacious, decent and very comfortable. It has also greatly increased our productivity to a very large extent.”
Mr Terfa kunde, a student of the Polytechnic who graduated a few years ago, confided in this correspondent that the lecture rooms at the state poly were more of cages than what are called lecture rooms.
“One of the major problems we had in the school was lecture rooms. They were just so small, disorganised and so poorly ventilated such that each lecture was nearly a nightmare. The last time I went to the school, I saw that they have a lot of new lecture halls and have even renovated most of the old ones. I think that would have great impact on teaching and learning now.” he said.
Dr Agbu since assumption of office in acting capacity, has taken the issue of security in the polytechnic very seriously.
He has since given matching orders to security personnel in the institution to ensure that security is beefed up.
In the past, the porous nature of the Polytechnic fence gave encroachers from the surrounding villages unhindered access to trespass on the institution’s property. To that extent, students have been reportedly attacked right on campus while some female students were usually raped.
Since he took over the mantle of leadership as the Acting Rector, the development programmes put in place in the polytechnic is unprecedented.
Some members of the host community of the polytechnic who spoke with our correspondent said the giant stride recorded so far in the institution under the leadership of Dr Agbu Amos has redefined the institution and given students and staff sign of pride.
They argued that the Acting Rector has brought unparalleled development to the institution that made a choice for learning.
The Taraba State Polytechnic in Suntai, like most other academic institutions in the state has, no doubt, suffered serious infrastructural deficit over the years with staff, including the rector inhabiting offices that were devoid of conveniences even as the institution once looked like an abandoned community secondary school.
The current steady and uninterrupted growth in the Polytechnic under the leadership of Dr Agbu Amos as the acting rector is a boost to the economic activities of the host communities
Some residents of Jalingo, Taraba state Capital who spoke with this Blueprint, lauded the Acting Rector for within few months in acting capacity, used his vast experience in providing infrastructural development to the institution thereby giving room for expansion of economic activities.
Mr Bala Danbachi who expressed satisfaction noted that Dr Amos Agbu has made a good turn around in the history of the Polytechnic that makes it a first class institution.
He noted that his achievements so far have earned the institution national and international recognitions.
His efforts to transform the institution led to the recent visit of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) team on resources inspection exercise.
The Commissioner of education, Dr. Augustina Godwin while speaking during the inspection exercise appreciated the NBTE team for choosing Taraba Polytechnic Suntai for this significant exercise.
She commended Governor Kefas for his efforts towards the advancement of education in Taraba State, which includes his quest to offer Tarabans free education in public primary and secondary schools, and the reduction of school fees in tertiary institutions in the state.
She thanked the Governor for his commitment to the development of education and expressed hope that the outcome of the NBTE exercise would positively impact the future of Taraba’s children and empower the Polytechnic to compete globally.
The acting Rector Dr. Amos Agbu in his speech extended his gratitude to Governor Kefas and the Commissioner Godwin Augustina for their dedication to improving the education sector.
He hinted that the Kefas led administration is committed to provide quality education in Taraba State, noting that the importance of the NBTE inspection in ensuring the polytechnic meets the required standards is commendable.
The NBTE team zonal director Northeast, Mallam Abdurrahman Muazu while speaking during the inspection exercise, commended the efforts of Governor Kefas and the polytechnic management in driving educational development in the state.
He said the inspection exercise will be thorough and fair, with the aim of improving the quality of technical education in the Polytechnic.
In a similar developments, in few months of acting as the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Agbu Amos’s synergy with Tertiary Education Trust Funds (TETFund) has also changed the narratives of the institution.
The Polytechnic under Dr Amos has witnessed drastic infrastructural transformation, with more befitting buildings and conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.
Nevertheless, with the help from TETfund, decent and befitting office spaces for lecturers and other staff of the polytechnic have been provided.
The institurion’s Director of Works, Mr Samuel told this medium that before now, the situation was actually very bad.
“In most cases, we had to rush home in the middle of the day to use conveniences at home or other public conveniences. And because the offices were also very small, we had to stockpile documents and other things such that the offices were simply chocking. It was hell working under these conditions back then.
“With the provision of these new offices now, there are times I simply work till very late in the night without even realising how late it is. The offices now are habitable, spacious, decent and very comfortable. It has also greatly increased our productivity to a very large extent.”
Mr Terfa kunde, a student of the Polytechnic who graduated a few years ago, confided in this correspondent that the lecture rooms at the state poly were more of cages than what are called lecture rooms.
“One of the major problems we had in the school was lecture rooms. They were just so small, disorganised and so poorly ventilated such that each lecture was nearly a nightmare. The last time I went to the school, I saw that they have a lot of new lecture halls and have even renovated most of the old ones. I think that would have great impact on teaching and learning now.” he said.
Dr Agbu since assumption of office in acting capacity, has taken the issue of security in the polytechnic very seriously.
He has since given matching orders to security personnel in the institution to ensure that security is beefed up.
In the past, the porous nature of the Polytechnic fence gave encroachers from the surrounding villages unhindered access to trespass on the institution’s property. To that extent, students have been reportedly attacked right on campus while some female students were usually raped.
Since he took over the mantle of leadership as the Acting Rector, the development programmes put in place in the polytechnic is unprecedented.
Some members of the host community of the polytechnic who spoke with our correspondent said the giant stride recorded so far in the institution under the leadership of Dr Agbu Amos has redefined the institution and given students and staff sign of pride.
They argued that the Acting Rector has brought unparalleled development to the institution that made a choice for learning.
Culled From Blueprint
