Federal Polytechnic Ukana: Rector calls for more intervention as Fashola commissions road
The Rector Federal Polytechnic, Ukana in Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Uduak S. Ukekpe has commended the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola for the formal handing over of 1.1 Kilometer road constructed in the Main campus of the Polytechnic, saying it will impact greatly on the quality of education produce in the institution.
Dr Ukekpe made this statement during the formal handing over of the completed 1.1km internal road in the Polytechnic by the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, His Excellency, Mr. Babatude Raji Fashola at the Main Campus of the institution.
The Rector, in his address, thanked the president of Nigeria, His Excellency Mohammadu Buhari for his immense interest and support in education, describing this intervention as timely and a step in the right direction.
” Needless to stress that this road intervention was very timely and has added great value to the Polytechnic, being a relatively new school established by the Federal Government in June 2014, we are not taking this for granted because this intervention has addressed the road infrastructure deficit in a new institution like ours ” he said.
He further appealed passionately to Federal Government for the intervention on the access road to the polytechnic which has remained untarred and in a very deplorable condition especially during rainy season noting that accessing the Polytechnic during rainy season had always been challenging for staff, Students and other visitors.
” It is our hope that if the access road is tarred , it will enhance mobility and create an aesthetically pleasing ambience for the Polytechnic” he added.
Dr Ukekpe also commended the Federal Controller of works, Akwa Ibom State, Engr. Kayode Akinwade for his proper supervision on this project. He also stressed that the Polytechnic would appreciate further assistance from the Ministry to complete the remaining 3.1Km internal road left to be covered.
The Minister of Works and Housing, His Excellency, Babatude Fashola who was represented by Federal Controller of Works Akwa Ibom State, Egnr. Kayode Akinwade in his handover address, said “The gap of our infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways and it has reached the school”.
He summited that the Ministry has successfully intervened in the internal Road networks of 46 Tertiary Federal institutions and handed over 29 as at 2021 and now have another 17 ready to be handed over while they are currently attending to 30 roads in similar institutions across the country making it a total of 76.
According to him, ” during the construction 50 people, were directly employed while 200 were indirectly employed in the process contributing to the job creation initiatives of the government and it is hoped that the school will now ensure that this asset is used properly and not abused”.
The highpoint of the event was the cutting of the tape to formally hand over the 1.1 km road to the polytechnic which was done by the Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Kayode Akinwade and witnessed by the Rector Dr. Uduak S. Ukekpe, Registrar, other Management Staff, Ukana West Clan Head, amongst others.
The Executive Director of AE and E on behalf of the contractor, thanked Federal Government for the contract and happily expressed his satisfaction over completion of the project at the agreed date.
He posited the the road construction was well constructed and met all standards of civil engineering in road construction.
He lauded the Rector, the polytechnic community and the host community for the harmonious working relationship he enjoyed through out the project period.
In a goodwill message, the Clan Head of Ukana West, His Highness Okuku Silvanus Obot Udoekaneme, the ASUP and SSANIP Chairmen of Federal Polytechnic Ukana Chapter, Comrade Itoro and Comrade Oliver Peters respectively and the Student Union President, Comrade God’sfavour Otu koko, commended the Federal Government for the intervention describing the roads as a standard one.
“I am highly elated because anytime I am invited to the polytechnic, I always come to meet a new project. I am happy with the progress so far and I want to say that our community is open and ready to welcome and corporate with any company in case of subsequent projects in the Polytechnic”, Obong Silvanus, the Clan Head of the Host Community categorically stated in his goodwill message.
In a vote of thanks, the Registrar, Dr. Okon J. Ekanem, Thanked the Federal Government for this intervention, saying that he believes that soon more roads will be constructed in the Polytechnic.
He thanked the Rector for this efforts in making the institution grow and thanked all Staff, Students and the host communities for their unwavering support.
