The Rector of Federal Polytechnic Ukana, Mrs. Eduma Essien, has announced that the institution is making concerted efforts to secure accreditation for 25 additional academic programmes from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
This comes after the Rector successfully secured accreditation for 21 academic programmes within her first three months in office.
She made the disclosure during her one-year anniversary celebration held on Friday at the institution’s auditorium. The event was themed “12 Months of Vision, Innovation and Progress.”
Essien explained that the proposed accreditation will cover 13 National Diploma (ND) and 12 Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes. She further revealed that the institution has received approval from the NBTE and the Federal Ministry of Education under the TVET programme to operate as a skill training centre in Fashion Design, Leather Works, Paint Making, Printing, and Decoration, among other trades.
“We are expecting to have 25 programmes accredited soon, and we have what it takes to achieve this. We are already putting the right facilities and equipment in place to ensure a smooth and successful process,” she said.
The Rector noted that deliberate steps are being taken to address infrastructural gaps in the institution, adding that several TETFund-sponsored projects are at various stages of completion.
She also announced that the institution will soon hold its first-ever convocation ceremony after 11 years of existence, describing it as a proud milestone. Essien attributed the growth and development recorded under her administration to a harmonious working relationship with staff and union leaders, pledging to deliver even greater impact during her tenure.
In his remarks, Hon. Patrick Umoh, the Federal Representative for the Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State, commended the Rector for her developmental strides and urged others to emulate her leadership.
He pledged to facilitate a ₦300 million project allocation for the construction of classroom blocks to enhance teaching and learning in the institution.
Also speaking, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh, lauded the Rector’s efforts in addressing infrastructural deficits, noting that her vision aligns with Governor Umo Eno’s education programme as encapsulated in the ARISE Agenda.
