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Tag: Rector

  • Students hail Rector on CBT exams

    The National Association of Class Representative Students (NACRS) has lauded the efforts of the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko (OKO POLY) in Anambra State, Prof Godwin Onu, to make the institution the hub of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) through the introduction of Computer-Based Test (CBT).

    The praise came at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association held at Whiteview Hotel in Awka. NACRS, in its communiqué issued after the meeting, stated that the introduction of CBT in the institution would go a long way in fighting and eradicating examination malpractice in the institution and urged other institutions to emulate the idea.

    Speaking in an interview shortly after the meeting, Achionye Nnanedu, NACRS national president said Prof Onu had proved his visionary leadership and passion for the transformation of the institution through ICT.

    He said: “When you look around the school, there are so many changes. All the dilapidated buildings like the medical center, Mass Communication building and some other dilapidated buildings were pulled down and replaced with befitting ones. The issue of cultism, drug abuse and other social vices has been reduced in the institution.”

    Achionye added: “Onu brought sunshine on the campus, which has improved the rating of the polytechnic and elevated the quality of learning and research. He was re-appointed to continue because of the changing fortune of the school.”

  • We’ll soon develop our second campus, says rector

    The Rector of Abia State Polytechnic, Sir Allwell Abalogu Onukaogu has said construction work will soon begin at the second campus of the institution at the outskirts of Aba.

    Fielding questions with reporters in Aba, Onukaogu revealed that arrangements for the foundation-laying ceremony of the Osisioma campus to be performed by the Governor and Visitor of the school; Theodore Ahamefule Orji would soon be concluded.

    He said: “We already have the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), but because we don’t want anything that will disrupt work as soon as construction work began on the site, we have engaged the natives; our host community to a roundtable discussion to resolve and settle issues with them amicably. I can assure that in no distant time, the governor will be coming to perform the foundation-laying ceremony on the site.

    “The campus, when completed, will solve students’ accommodation problems; provide space for the establishment of more departments such as mass communication, among other courses. It will also be equipped with modern sports facilities for students’ recreation.

    “For the campus, my predecessors in office did not think there was any need for us to go to their when this place has not been exhausted and when I assumed office as the rector, I decided to exhaust the available space and whatever that is available here. I had to knock down all bungalows and then, put high-rise buildings. By the grace of God, we have exhausted all the available spaces we have here.

    “So, what we are doing is to develop the second campus. This place was never really supposed to be a temporary site because the idea of the polytechnic in Aba was to promote the industrial potential that Aba have. So, there was no need taking the campus out of Aba town.

    “We intend to build hostels for our students there. Zenith Bank has indicated interest to partner with us through public private partnership (PPP) arrangement. We are studying their proposal and conditions. If we are comfortable with it, we will accept them.

    “Also, we intend to transfer all Humanities and Management Colleges to the new campus. There is a plan to establish a School of Mass Communication. There will be a modern library and a mini-administrative block because here remains the main campus.

    “There will be sporting facilities so that students can recreate. This is because the intellect will be useless without a healthy body; that is why we are not only going to build, but also to encourage students to make good use of those sporting facilities to develop themselves.

    “As time goes on, we may begin to think of agricultural programmes because the lane is big enough to accommodate Agriculture Department and students.”

    Debunking a media report on the institution, the rector thanked Governor Orji for his assistance to the institution, stating that with the modern equipment which the school boasts, it competes favourably with Federal Government institutions.

    “The proprietors of this school before the present governor took over were not even bold enough to establish core polytechnic courses. The equipment we have in surveying, let alone in the Environmental Sciences cost millions of Naira. There are very few institutions in the country that have the kind of equipment that we have here.

    “In our Hospitality and Tourism Departments, we have 28 chalets that can stand any level of competition with five star hotels.

    “Our Food Science and Technology graduates can work in the most modern food establishments unlike their contemporaries that will need to be retrained before working in a modern food processing factory. We have facilities that can bake 1, 000 loaves of bread in 30 minutes.

    “Some institutions have demanded that we fabricate dredging machines for them which other polytechnics that are over 40 years cannot even do. It is not just a question of manpower, but that of equipment.

    “We have about 12 functional boreholes and a urinary for students, unlike in the past when they defecated everywhere.

    “So, when they say there was a polytechnic that was teaching Accountancy, Public Administration, what do you need to teach those programmes? You need classroom and manpower, but if you are teaching Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Electrical Electronics, you do not only need staff, you need equipment and we have the latest versions of these equipment.” he said.

    Onukaogu described his relationship with government, staff and students as cordial, adding that they have always come out stronger and united after industrial disputes which was why the school was in session even when polytechnics in the country were on strike.

    He expressed hope that expansion project would help to create job opportunities for the host communities and people of Abia.

  • Praises for rector’s re-appointment

    Various groups and stakeholders in the education sector have praised the re-appointment of Dr. Cele Njoku as the Rector of Nekede Federal Polytechnic by President Goodluck Jonathan. Her re-appointment was the aftermath of the recommendation of the Polytechnic’s Governing Council.

    One of the groups, under the aegis of Friends of Dr. Cele Njoku, said the tremendous transformation witnessed in the institution during her first tenure justified her re-appointment for a second tenure.

    Briefing reporters in Owerri, the Imo State capital, members of the group, which included Mrs. Christina Ezem, Lady Nneoma Cecilia Ugbolue, Chinyere Habiba Sani, Mrs. Odisa Okeke, Princess Prisca Iroegbu, Mrs. Chinatu Iloeje, Mrs. Pamela Nnenna Ogamba and Dr. (Mrs.) Blessing Ekemezie, Mrs. Regina Eke-Opara, Mrs. Chidi Oparah, Mrs. Nwaozuzu Ijeoma Norah, Comrade Loveth Chisaa Ekwemalor (JP) and Mr. Paul C. Nwachukwu, affirmed that the Polytechnic has witnessed peace and tranquillity since Njoku took over as Rector, adding that the feat was achieved as a result of her determination to improve the general well-being of the institution.

    The spokesperson of the group, who is also the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) chapter, Comrade Loveth Ekwemalor, said the Rector has transformed the Nekede Polytechnic to being the best in the Southeast zone.

    She further revealed that this year, the Polytechnic was the most sought-after institution among federal and state polytechnics in the country, according to information from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

    She said: “The infrastructural transformation and environment conducive enough to teaching and learning which the institution enjoys today, speak volumes of the judicious use of available resources, effective co-ordination of human resources and leadership vision, dexterity and the commitment of the rector which led to the completion of some of the projects begun by her predecessors and the ones she initiated within a short period of assumption of office.”

    She reeled off some of the achievements recorded by the rector to include the completion of the Evening and Weekend Programme buildings, tarring of intra-campus roads, construction of modern building complexes for the staff nursery/primary school, renovation and equipping of the institution’s medical centre and establishment of a functional work centre, among other huge projects.

    The SSANU boss also noted that within two years of Njoku’s administration, programmes such as Arts and Design, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, HND Mass Communication and HND Electrical Electronics were accredited for the institution.

  • Why we visited Amaechi-Rector

    The Rector of the newly-established Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas in Bonny Island, the headquarters of Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, Prof. Elijah Tamuno Iyagba, has stated that the principal officers of the institution decided to visit the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to inform him that all hands are on deck, and that they are ready to get to work.

    He stated that the polytechnic, in spite of being a federal institution, is located in Rivers State, stressing that Amaechi must be formally informed of their arrival and to familiarise themselves with him.

    Iyagba gave the assurance when he led other principal officers of the polytechnic on a courtesy call on Amaechi at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

    He assured Amaechi of the commitment of the principal officers of the institution to achieve its goals.

    He noted that citing of the polytechnic in the oil-rich coastal Bonny would afford Niger Deltans more opportunity of gathering maximum knowledge in oil and gas activities.

    The rector also recalled that the idea for the polytechnic was first mooted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and recently approved by President Goodluck Jonathan, with a take-off grant of about N1billion.

    Iyagba said: “Your Excellency, as you may be aware, it has been a long road. This started 14 years ago. It was to be a National Technical Institute by the Rivers State government and six years later, the Federal Government, under President Obasanjo, asked the PTDF to take over the construction of the institution at the time, as a way of providing opportunities for Niger Delta youths. Later on, the present Federal Government upgraded the status to a polytechnic and finally, just a few months ago, we were appointed as the pioneer principal officers to kick-start the institution.

    “Yes, it is a federal institution, but it is in Rivers State and we felt that we must come and formally pay you a courtesy call.”

    Amaechi, in his response, lauded the principal officers for the visit and hoped that the objectives of the establishment of the polytechnic would be realised.

    He said: “Let me welcome you to Port Harcourt. Most of you, I guess, must come from this part of Nigeria and I wish you all the best. I hope that you achieve the objectives. God bless you. Thank you very much”.

     

  • Maritime Academy to introduce new scheme

    THE Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, in Akwa  Ibom State is to introduce a new employment scheme to boost workers’morale.

    The Rector, Joshua Okpo, has inaugurated a 17-man committee to prepare new conditions of service for the Governing Council and send to the Federal Ministry of Transport.

    He urged the committee to ensure that the aspirations of the academy’s employees were met in the new conditions of service.

    Describing the committee members as wise men, Okpo said the academy deserved better conditions of service outside that of the public service.

    “As a member of this committee, you are expected to bring out programmes that will address the needs of employees of this institution. Our conditions of service must be different from those of conventional institutions or establishments.

    “Particularly important is the issue of retirement. We believe when you are discussing among yourselves you have to come out with measures that will address staff welfare during retirement.”

    He said when he assumed duty as Rector of the academy, he noticed that there were many employees who were due for promotion, but were not promoted, adding that many of them are serving as Senior Lecturers, Chief Lecturers, Deputy Registrars, Directors and Acting Directors.

    He assured the staff of improved and enhanced conditions of service, advising them to reciprocate the kind gesture through dedicated service.

    Okpo said he was working to make the academy a degree-awarding institution before the end of his tenure.

    A member of the committee, Jide Kupoluyi, thanked the rector for the opportunity to serve, promising to justify the confidence reposed on them.

    He said the Act, which established the academy, empowers the management to propose a suitable conditions of service for the academy.

  • Rector faults NIMASA, master mariners over stattus of maritime institute

    The Rector, Stars Maritime Academy (SMA), Dr. Reuben Ovai, has said  both the Nigeria Maritime Adminsitration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and  master mariners are incompetent to comment on the legitimacy or otherwise of the operations of private maritime schools in the country because they are not the regulatory authorities saddled with the responsibility of approving operations of technical education.

    Ovai spoke at the school premises in Itele, Ogun State in response to allegations levelled against private maritime schools in the country as illegitimate recently by the NIMASA and some master mariners in the country. He said though a few of the schools may be operating illegally, it is wrong for any agency of government or anybody to make a blanket statement because some of the schools like STARS Maritime Academy were duly registered and accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Federal Ministry of Education.

    He said for a government agency that suppose to know better to be accredited with such a published story that private maritime schools in the country are illegitimate sends a wrong information to the general public.

    The rector said the Act that established NIMASA did not give them any right to accredit any maritime institution in the country, adding that the agency under its present management is taking too many responsibilities that are not for them. Master mariners are misinformed about private maritime schools, he added.

  • Rector crisis rages despite Jonathan’s endorsement

    Rector crisis rages despite Jonathan’s endorsement

    Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State used to be a quiet and peaceful community. Not anymore. A sharp knife has severed the cord of unity and peace. The community has fallen apart.

    The awful situation resulted from the squabble between the traditional ruler of the kingdom Igwe (Prof.) Laz Ekwueme and his subjects over one of the members of the community, Prof. Godwin Onu who is the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko.

    While the monarch and some of his subjects, including the town’s President-General, Ike Nwammuo, are fighting for the removal of the Rector, the youths of the community and some members of the executive of Oko Progressive Union (OPU), are against the professor’s ouster.

    In the circumstances, things are no longer at ease in the community of former Nigerian Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme who championed the establishment of the institution 22 years ago.

    Some members of the community have been at daggers-drawn with the management of the Polytechnic, which is being spearheaded by Igwe Ekwueme and Ike Nwammuo.

    The situation has sparked several protests from the youths led by Evangelist Hilary Tochukwu Ezeokafor.

    Those who favour his removal say the Rector is not qualified to be the head of the Polytechnic, because he studied Political Science which is not part of the curricula of polytechnics.

    Another complaint is that Onu allegedly instigated all the crises the community has witnessed since his assumption of office as the Rector, even as they further alleged that he induced the youths with money and impersonation of leaders of the community.

    They also maintained that, being the host community, they should know who heads the institution, insisting that the community should be represented in the institution’s governing council.

    They also accused Prof. Onu of harbouring enormous hatred and animosity for the community despite the support he enjoys from the people.

    More worrisome to the community is the alleged clandestine moves by the Rector to relocate the institution to his community, Ezira in Orumba South Local Government Area.

    Before now, the community and the institution had engaged in serious battles over Masquerade Week which resulted in heavy protests within and outside the school.

    During one of the protests on March 26, 2012, some students and youths of the community were injured.

    To ensure that Prof. Onu was removed as Rector of the institution, there have been several petitions to the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike and to the Presidency.

    However, the snag here is that the community is unaware that, as a result of the transformation of the institution under Onu’s leadership, Prof. Onu’s second four-year tenure had been signed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The approval for his second tenure was in October, 2013 before the expiration of his first tenure on March 4, 2014.

    However, the National Legal Adviser of Oko Progressive Union (OPU), Chief Uchenna Okonkwo-Okom had maintained that “renewing his tenure before the expiration of his first is illegal, ultra vires and of no effect.”

    Speaking with reporters in his palace, Igwe Ekwueme said he had continued to receive threat messages from some groups to the effect that if anything goes wrong in Oko community, he would be arrested.

    He said though he had not been arrested by anybody, the harassments and intimidations from certain groups were embarrassing to his person.

    The monarch further said some of the security agencies had not seen him for over a year; he questioned the rationale behind their interest to see him now saying, “I’m afraid of this situation”.

    On whether Dr Alex Ekwueme is aware of the situation in Oko Polytechnic or in support of their agitation for the removal of the Rector, Igwe Ekwueme said the former Vice-President supports Prof. Onu’s removal.

    “Ekwueme is on the same page with the community. You know he is a humble man and he does not really throw his weight around,” he said.

    However, Igwe Ekwueme pleaded that the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, the Senator representing the zone and the member representing Orumba North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives to intervene on the matter.

    The youth leader, Evangelist Ezeokafor told our correspondent that the youth are disappointed in some people’s roles in the crisis.

    He said the Rector has not committed any crime that could warrant anybody to call for his removal, adding that “he had carried the community along since he assumed duty over four years ago.”

    He commended President Jonathan for endorsing the Rector’s second tenure, which, according to him, had made members of the community proud.

    “His massive infrastructural development in the school and the help he has rendered to Oko community, especially the youth, were unprecedented,” he said.

    The Public Relations Officer, Oko Progressive Union (OPU), Nwafor Jeremiah, said members of Oko community are not interested is renewing Prof. Onu’s tenure, but are interested in allowing the man to finish his work in Oko.

    He condemned the call by the traditional ruler and the President-General of OPU for Prof. Onu’s removal, adding that the executive of OPU would not support it.

    He emphasised that the community had not deliberated on Prof. Onu’s removal, saying, the monarch and his cohorts were on their own.

    Mr Sopuluchukwu Onwuka, a lawyer, who is the National Assistant Secretary of OPU, told our correspondent that the monarch’s selective judgment had ruined Oko community.

    Onwuka said Oko community has a constitution that guides it, adding that it stipulates the functions of the monarch and that of the union.

    The public relations officer of the institution, Mr. Obini Onuchukwu, described Prof. Ekwueme as a father figure, the mentor, a role model and the landlord in the community and therefore should allow the Rector to concentrate on the task of developing the institution.

    Noting that “call for his removal is borne out of politics and selfishness,” he added: “it is the idea of those falling angels who do not want the success of Oko community and the institution.”

    Onuchukwu reminded the monarch that the way he had been championing the removal of Prof. Onu may equally boomerang on him because he is the Chairman, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Kaduna.

    He said: “I am disappointed in the calibre of people calling for the removal of the Rector. They do not know that the President had renewed his tenure for another four years.”

    On the Rector’s achievements, Onuchukwu said he has improved the academic standard of the institution as well as embarking on massive infrastructural development of the institution.

    Okonkwo-Okom said: “The community has concluded that continued stay of Prof. Onu as Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Oko does not augur well for the Polytechnic, will retard the pace of its development. His continued stay has been rejected by the entire staff, students and the host community. Therefore, his tenure should not be renewed but should be terminated forthwith.

    “All staff unions in the Polytechnic have vowed to continue their strike if Prof. Onu is allowed to return as Rector under whatever guise.

    “On our part, Oko community has resolved to occupy the Polytechnic if Prof. Onu returns and would not vacate the premises until he is removed.

    “He is notorious for engaging in excessive use of police might to enforce his unpopular policies and programmes. We hereby humbly notify the government that Oko community will not be prepared for the return of Prof. Onu unless he is prepared to shoot all of us to clear his way,”

    It was gathered that the bone of contention in the area is award of contracts to individuals.

    “Why should anybody seek for contracts from the institution? Since the Rector’s tenure, he has transformed the institution and anybody that comes in now should identify the area as institution of higher learning and not like a glorified secondary school,” the source said.

    The crisis between the community and the Federal Polytechnic Oko has become upsetting so much so that if the Federal Government, former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme and other stakeholders did not intervene, there may be much turmoil that may destabilise both the community and the institution.

  • Rector promises to improve on first term gain

    Rector promises to improve on first term gain

    The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic in Ado-Ekiti, Mrs Theresa Taiwo Akande, has begun a second term in office, following her re-appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    When CAMPUSLIFE visited her office, she highlighted her achievements and challenges in the last one year, urging students should expect more from her.

    She appealed to the Federal Government and corporate organisations to support the polytechnic’s vision.

    For Nigeria to achieve sustainable industrial growth, she said, a high premium must be placed on technical and vocational education through funding.

    She said her administration in built infrastructure, trained over 700 staff in local and international capacity building programmes, improve staff welfare, got accreditation for all courses offered by the institution, developed entrepreneurship, raised the Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR), digitalised the school’s library and renovated classrooms and hostels.

    The Rector said the polytechnic signed an agreement with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, for an exchange programme for staff and students, noting that lack of fund remained the polytechnic’s challenge.

    She said the administration was ready to consolidate on its past achievements, saying that she was ready to listen to the needs of students.

    The Deputy Rector, Dr Nnamdi Aboloma, urged staff and students to join hands with the administration to realise the objectives of the institution.

    AN NDI student of Quantity Surveying, Aanu Omolara, praised the Rector for the massive renovation of the institution’s hostels and classrooms, saying the adminsitration should build more female hostels to accomodate the growing students population

  • My score card, by Auchi Poly Rector

    My score card, by Auchi Poly Rector

    The management of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi (Auchi Poly) has been praised for its efforts to beautify the campus and make its road passable. The campus hosted a large number of visitors during its 21st Convocation last week.

    As they drove into the campus to attend the event, the visitors praised the Dr Philipa Idogho-led administration for improving on the infrastructure in the school.

    The authorities also broke the jinx of combined convocations, a feat many believed is a new dawn in the history of the institution.

    For a long time, the polytechnic was known to have a culture of combining convocations for two or three sets of graduands at the same time. This development often resulted in delayed issuance of certificates, a condition that made many of its graduates to look for jobs with letters of attestation from the school.

    Dr Idogho listed challenges the management faced to reposition the school, stating that they later became the tonic that propelled her into action to eliminate the problems. She said she was leaving the school better than she met it.

    She said: “Auchi Poly has, recently, been rated high among and this is evident in the geometric increase in the number of those seeking admission into the school. Also, the school consistently maintained its premium position on the Webometrix ranking index as the second best tertiary institution in Nigeria and on the polytechnics category, the school ranked best in Nigeria and in Africa.”

    Dr Idogho announced that the polytechnic won the Nuxart Art prize – arts exhibition on fabricated products competition among tertiary institutions in Nigeria, adding that it was the third time the school would be winning the prize.

    She revealed that polytechnic signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State, on the award of degrees in 11 courses, including Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Civil Engineering and Accounting in a bid to enrich the school’s courses.

    “The Senate of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, after an assessment of the polytechnic’s facilities and infrastructure, approve the affiliation, which is pending before the National Universities Commission (NUC) to carry out an independent assessment of available facilities and manpower and certified the agreement as advised.

    “On the pursuit of academic excellence, the school will not relent in its attempt to institutionalise the culture of inaugural lectures. To this end, all chief lecturers with doctorate degrees engaged in teaching and research by the school must comply with directives and ensure they deliver their inaugural lectures in their respective fields. So far, only two accomplished scholars have performed this academic ritual, namely the late Dr Okhaishe Idokpesi and my humble self,”she added.

    She said the institution secured a working relationship with the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom on the training of academic staff and students, noting that four academic staff had benefited from the gesture.

    The Rector promised that her administration would continue to prioritise security of life and property on the campus. She noted that the school had constructed seven speed breakers on the busy Auchi-Benin highway, which is notorious for accidents.

    In a convocation lecture titled: Climate change and biodiversity: Implications for national development, Prof Medina Kadiri of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) alerted policy makers to the dangers inherent in climate change.

    Kadiri, a former Edo State Commissioner of Environment and Mineral Resources, drew audience’s attention to the menace of flooding, erosion and other ecological problems, saying: “We must stop paying lip service to these dangerous signals and begin to act proactively to forestall the weather disaster.”

    The occasion featured the conferment of fellowship awards on deserving recipients, including a former High Commissioner to Canada, Ambassador Aziz Garuba; Ogbashi of Auchi Kingdom, Alhaja Zulietu Abu Momoh and the traditional ruler of Igueben, Okaigun of Esanland, Ehizogie Eluojerior.

    Dignitaries who graced the event included representatives of the Minister of Education Nyesom Wike and Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, royal fathers, rectors, chairman and members of the school Governing Council, among others.

  • Students hail Rector on projects

    Authorities of NTA TV College, Jos, have started renovation work and procurement of new equipment to aid teaching and learning in the college.

    When CAMPUSLIFE visited the college recently, modern television broadcast facilities had been installed. A teleprompter for digital news presentation had also been acquired by the college.

    Hostel rooms are also being renovated. Some students who spoke to our correspondent said they were excited by the development because they were sleeping on the floor before management procured iron beds for them.

    The school library had also been expanded and new broadcast books equipped and an e-library section had also been created to aid research.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Television Production students Association (TEPSA), James Ibrahim, praised management for the development, adding that the initiative would expose students to the dynamcs of world-class broadcasting.

    A student of Television Journalism, Nanblin Tohomdet, said: “We are so proud of our Rector, Mrs Halimah Bewell, and what she has done within the time she has assumed office. We will support the move to develop the institution.”

    Kauna Solomon said that the Rector is facilitating their dreams of becoming professionals in the broadcasting world, adding that the Rector had the interest of the students at heart.

    In a broadcast, Dutse TV, a students’ campus television station said: “Our Rector has proven the popular adage that what a man cannot do, a woman can do better. Previous Rectors have not achieved what she has done in just few months of assuming the position. She is a mother who knows what her children really want and how to give it to them. We shall ensure that we put the equipment to good use.’’

    A student who pleaded not to be named said that there are projects that were yet to be realised, calling on management to release the school bus to students for excursions. Others said the college needed to reduce hostel accommodation.