The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal Polytechnic Offa

  • Offa poly probes student’s death

    The Management of the Federal Polytechnic Offa (FEDPOFFA) is investigating the suicide of one of its students, Ridwan Ajiboye, alleged to have been caused by his handling of the money he gathered from selling handouts for a lecturer.

    In a statement, Olayinka Iroye, Head, Public Relations and Protocols at the institution, debunked claims about the cause of death of the ND 1 student of Civil Engineering.

    The statement reads: “The deceased, an ND 1 student of Civil Engineering actually took some quantity of poisonous substance which led to his death days after he was taken to several hospitals for treatment.

    “However, the other angle to the story…that the said student took poison because he was embarrassed by a lecturer over handout proceeds, is unfounded and false.

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    “Up till now, the circumstance surrounding the reason why the student took the substance is shrouded in mystery. However, the Management is investigating the case to get to the root of the matter.”

    The statement added that the sale of handouts had been outlawed at the institution for over 20 years.

    “For the benefit of doubt, sale of handouts has been banned for more than two decades at the Polytechnic and no lecturer sells handout to students no matter the situation.

    “Management of the Federal Polytechnic Offa headed by Dr. Lateef Olatunji has eradicated all forms of corruption and malpractices, and machineries have been put in place to curb and check every forms of indiscipline by both staff and students,” it reads.

    The statement also noted that a report of another attempted suicide by an ND student of Estate Management was false.

  • NCC donates 70 e-pads to FEDPOFFA

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given out 70 e-pads to students of the Federal Polytechnic Offa (FEDPOFFA) International Secondary School.

    Chairman, Board of the School, Mrs. Anthonia Alawaye and the Principal, Mr. Ajala, received the e-pads on behalf of the School.

    The  Rector, Dr. Lateef Olatunji, congratulated the Board and Principal and praised the teachers for imparting valuable knowledge into the students.

    “What you are receiving from us cannot commensurate your hard labour on these children, but we assure you of our continuous support and we pray that you are all blessed in your endeavours,” he said.

    Olatunji urged the students to put the gadgets into maximum use in order to improve their performances in next year’s Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME). He advised them to make the most of the e-pads as all past questions of public examinations had been installed in them.

    While appreciating the NCC for the gifts, he instructed that the gadgets be given to the students for their immediate use.

    On his part, Ajala promised that the school would continue to make the Polytechnic proud and that, with the gesture from the NCC, its performance in future public examinations would be outstanding.

    He also thanked the Rector and his management team for their tireless support for the school; he also praised the teachers for doing a very laudable job on the students.

    Mrs. Alawaye prayed the pupils would perform well in their examinations. She also thanked the NCC for counting the school worthy of benefitting.  She assured the commission of the judicious use of the items.

  • ‘Polytechnics now offer more arts courses’

    ‘Polytechnics now offer more arts courses’

    Polytechnics in Nigeria have deviated from their original concept of focusing on technical education, Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Dr. Lateef Olatunji has said.
    He added that polytechnics in the country now do more of arts courses than science and technical oriented courses.
    Dr Olatunji canvassed reorientation of the polytechnic education to revitalise nation’s economy development.
    The rector told reporters in Offa, Offa local area of Kwara state as part of activities for ninth convocation and 25th anniversary of the institution.
    The rector, who said that the development would not help production of engineers and technicians by polytechnics, added that government should attract more funds to polytechnics
    “The reason for establishing universities is different from why the polytechnics were set up in the first instance. But unfortunately we’ve mixed the two together in this country. Population of non science students are now more than science students in our polytechnics when you talk about engineering, technical studies and the like. We should change our orientation towards science education.
    Most polytechnic institutions have derailed in their educational curriculum as they now do more of art courses rather than core science and technical  oriented courses. We should change our orientation to be able to produce more engineers towards revitalising nation’s socio economic development, instead of encouraging people in arts subjects.
    “Federal Government can do more to assist and encourage science and technical oriented courses by pumping more money in the area of science education. For instance, tetfund would do more by giving more financial opportunities to polytechnics rather than the universities as the case is right now. Federal government should attract more funds to technical education”, he said.
    He also said that science and technical education would encourage entrepreneurship among youth in the country, adding that entrepreneurship was the key to self reliance and poverty alleviation.
    Dr. Olatunji, who said that a total of 6,000 students would graduate during the ninth convocation of the institution, added that his administration had succeeded to block  leakages in financial operations among workers by discouraging frivolous vouchers.
    He said that necessary control was being injected by the present administration without a recourse to witch hunting.
    The rector identified funding, upgrading of sport facilities and equipment, problems of transportation to and fro its main campus, and uncompleted road construction projects as part of challenges facing the institution.

  • FEDPOFFA begins IJMB Programme

    The Federal Polytechnic Offa, in affiliation with the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has begun running the Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) Programme.

    In a statement, the Registrar of the Polytechnic, Alhaji Abdulhamid Raji, said pioneer students for the programme are expected to resume on December 4, 2017.

    “The Polytechnic hereby calls on candidates seeking for admission into universities and possessing five (5) O’ Level Credit Passes in relevant subjects to apply for the 12-month programme.

    He assured potential students of uninterrupted academic calendar, internet facilities, high-tech and accessible laboratories, conducive learning environment, highly-dedicated, experienced and friendly teachers, conducive, homely and affordable hostel accommodation, among others.

    Interested candidates are to visit the Polytechnic website www.fpo.edu.ng for further details.

    Meanwhile, the institution will resume for the 2017/2018 academic session Monday, next week.

    Fresh students are to begin registration October 17, while returning students have between October 23 and November 10, 2017 to complete theirs.

    Lectures will commence at the two campuses of the polytechnic on November 13, while the 2017/2018 Matriculation ceremony for the new students is slated for November 30, 2017.

    First semester examination has been scheduled for January 22, 2018 to February 9, 2018.  The school would re-open again for the second semester on March 5, 2018.