The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Auchi Polytechnic

  • Auchi alumni return in 1499 Art Force

    Auchi alumni return in 1499 Art Force

    No fewer than 14 accomplished contemporary Nigerian artists; painters and sculptors who are all alumni of the renowned Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, class of 1999 will converge on Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Norman Williams Street, Ikoyi Lagos on August 10 for their fourth group exhibition tagged 1499 Art Force. The group of alumni now known as Auchi Art Royale is returning with renewed purpose, vision, and under a new identity. Their artistic journey, marked by unity and unflinching commitment to excellence, began twelve years ago with their debut exhibition at the National Museum, Lagos.

    Members of Auchi Art Royal include Asuku Musa Momoh, Ashikodi Okwudili, Dudu Emmanuel, Oisereme Pius, Franklyn Enebeli, Joe Nsek, John Anabui, Kingsley Bramah, Klaranze Okhide, Igba Henry, Imhonigie Imoesi, Nosa Osadolor, Ola Balogu, and Titus Agbara.

    1499 Art Force will run till August 23 at Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos. 

    Founder and Artistic Director Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Olorogun Jeff Ajueshi said it is a true honour that Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Lagos has been selected as the first gallery to host this newly rebranded collective.  “We are particularly proud to host ‘1499 Art Force’ not only because each of the 14 exhibiting artists is a celebrated figure in today’s contemporary Nigerian art scene, but because of the values they embody—values we have also championed for the past 18 years: unity, creative brilliance, and cultural continuity,” he added.

    He explained that the title of the exhibition—1499 Art Force—ingeniously merges the group’s graduation year (1999) with the number of its members (14), symbolising both the strength of their bond and the collective creative force they wield. He observed that as viewers move through the exhibition, they will encounter not just masterful techniques and seasoned styles, but a palpable sense of class and timeless grace reminiscent of royalty—befitting for a group now aptly named Auchi Art Royale.

    Read Also: Bauchi woos Southeast investors, as gov declares state ‘Haven of peace’

    To him, the exhibition is more than a visual feast, but a celebration of heritage, a reaffirmation of the power of collaboration, and a bold declaration of what is possible when artists grow together and hold one another accountable to elite performance.

    According to him, being a gallery that has long committed itself to supporting visionary talents and nurturing platforms that foster collective growth, Thought Pyramid, find deep joy in presenting the exhibition. He hoped that the exhibition will inspire the next generation of artists—particularly undergraduates and recent graduates—to build lasting camaraderie, champion mutual progress, and reinforce the value of our academic institutions in nurturing artistic potential.

    The mission of the Auchi Art Royal is to contribute meaningfully to the Nigerian and global art landscape through annual exhibitions, workshops, and art events. “We are committed to promoting creativity, cultural heritage, and artistic innovation,” the group said. 

    The group debut exhibition was 2003, titled Kindred Spirit held at the National Museum, Lagos featuring Ola Balogun, Dudu Emmanuel, and Titus Agbara.  In 2007, it held the second exhibition Free Style at the Harmattan Gallery, Lagos which featured more members such as Titus Agbara, Dudu Emmanuel, Imhonigie Imoesi, Joe Nsek, Franklyn Enebeli, and Nosa Osadolor.

    Three years later, it organized another exhibition Intrinsic at the African Artists’ Foundation (AAF), Lagos, which marked a significant moment for the group as it also welcomed additional members to expand its creative reach. The artists exhibited included Asuku Musa Momoh, Dudu Emmanuel, Imhonigie Imoesi, Klaranze Okhide, Titus Agbara, Joe Nsek, Franklyn Enebeli and Ola Balogun. 

    Last year, it celebrated its 25th anniversary with a major group exhibition Constellation at Iwalewa Gallery, Lagos, and featured 14 members, officially marking the complete formation of the group.

  • Apostle Suleman, others bags award at Auchi Polytechnic convocation

    Apostle Suleman, others bags award at Auchi Polytechnic convocation

    No fewer than five notable Nigerians that have excelled in their chosen fields and other human endeavour will be awarded during the five-day long combined convocation ceremony and the 60th anniversary of Auchi Polytechnic which takes between November 12 to 16.

    Dr Salisu Umar, Rector of the Polytechnic who made the disclosure, noted that the contributions of the recipients is one that needed to be appreciated in order to serve as encouragement to others.

    The Rector listed the awardees to include Prof. Samson Duna, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) and Apostle Johnson Suleman, President Omega Fire Ministries International.

    He further named Chief Dan Orbih, a politician and businessman, the chairman of Setraco, Abu Inu-Omoru and chairman of Jof, Dr Olusegun Olugboyegun as others that will be conferred with honourary award during the convocation.

    He said that the 60th anniversary of the institution and convocation ceremony will have graduands from 26 to 30 sets convoke.

    Umar reiterated his commitment to giving the Polytechnic the best and part of effort to reduce quality graduates that will in turn help in the transformation of the country.

    While commending the staff and students of the institution for their dedication, the Rector said since coming on board as the rector, he has embarked on projects aimed at improving learning and teaching environment in the polytechnic.

    Read Also; Nine things to know about acting COAS Olatubosun Oluyede

    “I am inspired by the passion and dedication of our staff and students who work tirelessly to achieve excellence in education and research.

    “Your hard work and commitment do not go unnoticed, and I am grateful for the privilege to serve alongside such talented individuals.

    “I remain devoted to enhancing excellence in teaching, learning, research, and developing leaders in many disciplines that makes a difference globally,” he stated.

    Umar said that a total of 60,549 graduates will be conferred with Professional Diploma (PD), National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) for the combined 26th to 30th convocation ceremony.

    He concluded by giving a breakdown of the graduands to include 37,058 ND, 23,470 HND and 21 Professional Diploma (PD).

    According to schedule of activities for the convocation and anniversary, the event will Kickstart on November 12 with the convocation of the 23,470 Diploma graduands while the inter-relegious service, exhibitions and talk show holds on November 13.

    Similarly, November 14 and 15 will see the celebration of the Polytechnic 60th anniversary and convocation lecture respectively while the main convocation ceremony and project inauguration takes place on Friday November 16.

    According to the Rector, the main convocation will be proceeded with a lecture that will be delivered by the Executive Secretary of the NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje is titled: “Re-Engineering In Nigeria With The Skills Mantra: The Role of Polytechnics.”

  • Don’t tarnish image of Auchi Polytechnic, council warns staff

    Chief Olarewaju Oloyo, the Chairman of the Governing Council of  Auchi Polytechnic in Edo,  has warned the staff  not to engage in unethical practices capable of ruining the reputation of  the institution.

    Oloyo gave the warning at an interactive session with Deans and Directors of the institution on Thursday in Auchi.

    While congratulating Dr Sanusi Jimah over his appointment as substantive Rector of the school, he said the council had come to the realisation that “the majority of staff, teaching and non-teaching, are reasonably obedient, hardworking and disciplined.’’

    According to him, the polytechnic “which is well respected among its peers,’’ has a great potential to serve the community and the nation through productive research and service.

    The council chairman, however, said a few members of the work force engage in unethical practices which impact negatively on the reputation of the polytechnic.

    “ Few members of staff wantonly break regulations by setting aside grievance procedures outlined in the terms of engagement.

    “Destroying any nation does not require the use of atomic bombs or the use of long range missiles. It only requires lowering the quality of education and allowing cheating in examination by such students.

    “Patients die in the hands of such doctors. Buildings collapse in the hands of such engineers. Money is lost in the hands of such economists and accountants.

    “Humanity dies in the hands of such religious scholars. Justice is lost in the hands of such judges; the collapse of the education sector is the collapse of the nation,” he said.

    “ We want to assure all of you that this council is in place to supervise the healthy and steady growth and progress of this institution.

    “Council believes that the welfare of staff is a necessary condition for progress. We assure you that council will pursue the welfare of staff as a cardinal principle.

    “Council also assures staff of fairness and justice. Staff should at all times endeavour to follow laid down grievance resolution mechanisms.

    “The idea of externalising grievances in the press is unhelpful. It impacts negatively on the polytechnic as an institution and on yourselves as workers of the polytechnic.

    “The community and the country have a myriad of problems requiring solutions. Problems can be solved through research; we mean productive research which solves or ameliorates problems.

    “We believe that this institution has the calibre of staff that can focus on such problems and solve them.

    “ In this direction, we challenge staff to come up with viable proposals that can solve problems.

    “We will find the money to fund such proposals. You worry about the proposal, leave us to worry about getting you the funds.

    Read Also: Auchi Polytechnic expels 18, rusticates 62

    “If this polytechnic must continue to make progress, discipline must be the guide. Under our oversight, unethical behaviour  like extortion, money or amorous gratification  for good grades for students will not be accepted.

    “The side tracking of regulations to externalise grievances in the courts or the press will also not be accepted. Council insists that internal grievance resolution mechanism should be exhausted before petitions start flying to all manner of offices in the country or in the court or the press.

    `We enjoin you to pass this message to your subordinates. Council will be compassionate, fair and just to all members of staff.

    “However, acts of indiscipline will be dealt with very firmly, I mean really very firmly.

    “Our hardworking staff needs to be protected. The image of the polytechnic needs to be protected from the nuisance of the few who soil our gowns,’’ he added.

    NAN

  • Auchi Polytechnic expels 18, rusticates 62

    The Federal Polytechnic, Auchi in Edo State has expelled 18 students and rusticated 62 others for misconduct in its 2016/2017 academic session. Rector of institution, Dr. Sanusi Jimah, disclosed this at the 36th matriculation ceremony for 11,173 students admitted into the institution for the 2017/2018 session.

    Jimah warned that those who used forged certificates to gain admission would be fished out. He said the institution has zero tolerance for social vices that his management would not hesitate to expel students who are found wanting. His words: “All the credentials you presented during the registration process will be verified. If the credentials are found to be fake; the penalty is expulsion from the polytechnic.

    “You have come into this institution at a time that management is on a mission of transformation. This transformation agenda is directed at ensuring that corrupt practices are eliminated in the conduct of academic and all other transactions in the polytechnic.’’

  • Auchi Polytechnic expels 18 students for misconduct

    Auchi Polytechnic expels 18 students for misconduct

    The management of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, has expelled 18 students and rusticated 62 others for misconduct during the 2016/2017 academic session.

    The Rector of institution, Dr. Sanusi Jimah, disclosed this at the 36th matriculation ceremony for 11,173 students admitted into the institution for the 2017/2018 session.

    Dr. Jimah warned the new students that anybody that used fake credentials to gain admission into the polytechnic would be fished out.

    He said the institution has zero tolerance for social vices, adding that the management would not hesitate to expel any student found wanting.

    The Rector said: “All the credentials you presented during the registration process would be verified. If the credentials are found to be fake; the penalty is expulsion from the polytechnic.

    “You have come into this institution at a time that management is on a transformation mission.

    “This transformation agenda is directed at ensuring that corrupt practices are eliminated in the conduct of academic and all other transactions in the polytechnic.

    “The management of the polytechnic is coming down hard on staff who extort money from students to enhance their examination grades or request amorous gratifications to pass students.”

     

  • Auchi polytechnic students seek Buhari’s intervention over rectorship crisis

    Auchi polytechnic students seek Buhari’s intervention over rectorship crisis

    The Students of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately intervene in solving the rectorship crisis in the institution.

    Their appeal was conveyed at a briefing in Abuja at the weekend by a former President of the Student Union Government of the institution, Samson Okoduwa.

    The students had last year staged a peaceful protest at the Federal Ministry of Education over allegations of high-handedness, mismanagement and corruption against the acting Rector, Mr. Sanusi Jimah.

    The students also urged Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu to make public the outcome of the interview conducted for the position of rector in 2016.

    They alleged that the acting Rector was running the institution as a personal office by giving appointments to his friends and cronies.

    A development a source at the institution confirmed, noting that 95 per cent of appointments made by Mr. Jimah favored people from his Auchi region.

    Okoduwa also alleged that students of the institution were not issued identity card in the 2016/2017 session despite management collecting N1,500 naira from them.

    He also alleged that the acting rector failed to conduct an election into the SUG because he wanted to impose a stooge on the students.

    According to him, Mr. Jimah deliberately fixed the SUG election immediately after the second semester examination when all students would have finished their examinations and technically seize to be students.

    Okoduwa noted that a substantive rector would save the already sinking polytechnic.

    He said: “We are again restating/re emphasizing our demand to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hi Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency, intervene in Auchi Polytechnic rectorship issue.

    “The President should direct the Honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to as a matter of urgency release the report of the already conducted interview in 2016 at Abuja and appoint a substantive rector for the institution.

    “The delay in the release of the result/report and subsequent appointment of a substantive rector for Auchi Polytechnic is the millennium corruption.

    “The aberration in the appointment of Dr. Sanusi Momodu Jimah as acting Rector by the National Board for Technical Education ( NBTE ) should be withdrawn as the National Universities Commission ( NUC ) has never appointed a Vice Chancellor for any university.

    “This already sinking institution should be salvaged  as it requires an emergency.”

    However, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Mustapha Oshiobugie, said elections into the SUG was deferred because of security reasons.

    He also said the students were issued identity cards to enable them write their second semester examinations.

    Mr. Oshiobugie said: “Election into the executive offices of the students union was deferred because of security reasons.  Departmental and school elections which preceed the union election had been successfully held in five schools.

    “There was violence in the sixth school (School of Engineering).  The reverberations could not be contained before the scheduled sessional examinations which was two weeks away.

    “To the best of my knowledge, students gain admission into examination halls on presentation of their identity cards showing that they are bona fide students of the polytechnic.  The Second Semester examination was conducted using this procedure.  And there was no incidence throughout the examination.”

  • Auchi poly staff unions confident of Rector’s ability to liquidate N1.8bn debt

    Auchi poly staff unions confident of Rector’s ability to liquidate N1.8bn debt

    Auchi Polytechnic staff on Monday said they had implicit confidence that the acting Rector, Dr Sanusi Jimah, would redeem his pledge to liquidate arrears of the inherited N1.8 billion owed to unions at the institution.

    The three unions in the institution in March, suspended their month-old strike following an inaugural meeting with Jimah over the outstanding indebtedness of N1.8 billion owed to the unions by the previous administration of Dr Philipa Idogo.

    The unions include: the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics ( ASUP ), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics ( SSANIP ) and the Non Academic Staff union of Polytechnics ( NASUP ).

    Some nine months since his assumption of office, the leadership of the unions, who described the acting Rector as “a man with a progressive heart,’’ confirmed that he had commenced the process of liquidating the outstanding debt.

    In telephone interviews in Benin, the union leaders, who commended Jimah’s policies and programmes, expressed implicit confidence in his leadership style.

    ASUP chairman, Mr Justin Momodu, said “I must say that all three unions have been enjoying a very cordial relationship with the acting Rector.

    “He has treated workers’ welfare with utmost priority, often times, even a step ahead of us.

    “For instance, even before we asked, he had tabled the issue of some of our sacked members before the Polytechnic’s Council.

    “Council granted the union’s appeal for their recall, and those recalled, who already attained retirement age, had their full benefits restored.

    “WIth a management that has Jimah as acting Rector, at its helm, workers do not have cause to complain or nurse any fear.

    “May I add that for now, workers have implicit confidence in his leadership style,’’ he said.

    SSANIP chairman, Mr Godwin Ikhide, confirmed that “following management’s agreement with the unions, the acting Rector has paid five per cent of the outstanding N1.8 billion owed to them by the previous management.

    “We are glad that he is fulfiling his commitment on his agreement with the unions. What happened was that the previous management, instead of remitting workers’ deducted funds to the union’s welfare account, was re-circulating it to pay staff whose employments were neither approved nor cash-backed.

    “This was what accumulated in two years to N1.8 billion, which the previous management left behind.

    “But the acting Rector is trying to liquidate this debt with internally generated revenue and is also taking steps to regularise the issue of unapproved employment of staff that has put the institution into this quagmire,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that members of ASUP are now on a nationwide strike, to demand for the enrolment of their members into CONTISS 15 migration salary structure for levels 11 downwards, and the payment of their promotion arrears.

    NAN

  • Auchi Polytechnic expels three ex union leaders

    Auchi Polytechnic expels three ex union leaders

    Authorities of Auchi Polytechnic have expelled three former students’ union leaders of the institution for misconduct.

    The expelled students’ union leaders were Samson Okoduwa, former president, Obukowho Favour Oghenerume, former secretary general and Unuareleokpa Patrick, former speaker of the students’ union government.

    Their expulsion was announced in a statement signed by Mr Mustapha Oshiobugie, the institution’s Public Relations Officer and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Read also: Auchi Poly students call for sack of Ag. Rector

    The Acting Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Sanusi Jimah, said in the statement that the trio impersonated themselves as union officials even after the institution’s authority had banned union activities during the examination period.
    Jimah said that the trio also led hoodlums to disrupt the first paper of the second semester examinations and refused to hand over union property in their possession.
    The acting rector said that the expelled students engaged themselves in series of activities that brought disrepute to the institution.
    Jimah assured that indiscipline and lawlessness among students would be curbed under his watch

  • Auchi poly proscribes SUG, goes ahead with session exams

    Auchi poly proscribes SUG, goes ahead with session exams

    The authorities of Auchi Polytechnic have proscribed the Student’s Union Government ( SUG ) over threat to the scheduled school’s second semester examination on Monday.

    Mr Mustapher Oshiobugie, the institution’s Public Relations Officer, made the disclosure in a telephone interview on Monday in Benin.

    He said the proscription of the SUG arose from the threat by the out-gone executive members of the union to disrupt the examination in protest over management’s postponement of union elections till after the sessional examinations.

    “It is true that management has banned all activities of the SUG till further notice effective from this morning.

    “The school’s management, acting on security reports, postponed the SUG election until the conclusion of the scheduled sessional examination which commenced this morning.

    “The report was such that if management allowed the election to hold, there was likely going to be security breach of great magnitude.

    “It is correct and a fact that the process of the SUG elections had commenced with the conclusion of the ethnic groupings known as ‘Kparakpo’ , departmental and school’s election.

    “But following the violent incident of last year, management took the security report very seriously and decided to postpone the election till after examination to allow things to calm down.

    “But members of the out-gone exco of the SUG, who insisted on going ahead with the election, went violent in protest.

    “The situation has been brought under control. Examination is in progress as i speak with you as they only disrupted the first paper,” he said.

    Oshiobugie assured students and staff of their safety and urged them to go about their normal businesses on campus.

    NAN

  • Police arrest four Customs impersonators for fraud

    Police arrest four Customs impersonators for fraud

    Three students of Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma and Auchi Polytechnic both in Edo State and a 21-year-old man have been arrested by the police for alleged impersonation of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and swindling of social media users.

    Proposer Oricha, 19, of Business Administration Department, 21-year-old Samuel Taye, 400 level, Ordinary National Diploma (OND) Electrical Engineering student, Shaka Sumaila and Sunday Aliyu were arrested by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police’ (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at Ekpoma.

    According to the police, the suspects, who usually posed as Customs officers on Facebook and other social media platforms, defrauded Nigerians several millions of naira in the guise of selling auction vehicles.

    It was gathered that their arrests followed series of complaints to the office of the IGP Ibrahim Idris on their activities.

    Two IRT teams and operatives of the Tactical Intelligence Unit (TIU) were said to have been deployed to Edo State after several days of analysing on ground intelligence.

    The police said the suspects confessed to the crime and explained their modus operandi.

    Recovered from the suspects’ mobile phones and laptops were pictures of genuine Customs officers, account numbers they used and correspondence between them and their victims.

    In his confessional statement, Aliyu said he has sold five cars. I received N50,000 for Toyota Camry, 150,000 for Toyota Corrolla, N35,000 for Gulf, N50,000 for Toyota Venza and N100,000 for the fifth car but I can’t remember the make.

    The Customs is not aware I am doing this. We use accounts given to us by Samuel Taye.