By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Anambra State Polytechnic (ANSPOLY), Mgbakwu in Awka north Local Government Area has vowed to lead other tertiary institutions in the country.
According to the Acting Rector, Nneka Mefor, ANSPOLY which was previously known as Anambra State College of Agriculture, has fully commenced its academic activities with availability of both human and material resources for effective teaching and learning capable of taking them to the zenith in no distant time.
Mefor, while leading journalists on facility tour of the institution, noted that ANSPOLY’s green house primarily mapped out to assist students on their practical works has being superb in the country for irrigation and all season farming. Other areas which the institution have excelled includes, animal clinic, wood and metal workshop, food and beverages processing machines.
She thanked the state governor, Willie Obiano, who thought it wise to upgrade the college of agriculture to polytechnic level, assuring that with her 26 years of service in the institution, and with the present erudite scholars in the polytechnic council, they were ever ready to make ANSPOLY an instituion of excellence, and possibly a university in the nearest futures.
Earlier speaking, Professor Chukwuemeka Prosper Ephraim Omaliko, a renowned agronomist and Chairman, Board of the ANSPOLY Council disclosed that they are running National Diploma and Higher National Diploma across four schools namely; Agriculture and related disciplines, Science and Technology, Management Sciences, and Engineering Technology.
Omaliko also confirmed that their courses were accredited by NBTE which would equally come to verify them by March this year.
“I encourage you to go round and see the new buildings and other facilities rapidly coming up on campus to ensure that we have adequate facilities to give the admitted students a world class technical education. In addition, His Excellency has approved a massive recruitment of staff from the state workforce to enable us maintain an adequate students/lecturer ratios. In keeping with the
National Policy on technical
education, a 70:30 ratio has
to be maintained between
the technology and management
programmes respectively.
That is why for the take off of this polytechnic, we are admitting 480 students in the technology programmes and 120 in the management sciences. That is a total of 600 students. “Also, we have a large expanse of land for all our activities. The college was occupying 29 hectares of land before it was upgraded to polytechnic. Currently, the state government has allocated more 126 hectares of lands for us. On social infrastructure, the governor has awarded contract for construction of all the roads linking the host community. We also have well positioned vibrant security outfit in the school including vigilante, and police. There are also consummate staff who are very conscious of our dream and ever ready to build upon it. Also, we have hostel accommodation and other things needed for effective teaching and learning, practical and laboratory works” he maintained.