Moses Umobong: AKWAPOLY has zero tolerance for sexual harassment, sorting, cultism
By Itoro Bassey
Sexual harassment, sorting of lecturers for extra marks in examination, cultism and other social vices are not tolerated at the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Akwpoly, Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene, says the Rector of the institution, Dr. Moses Umobong
Dr Moses Umobong said this on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen on the state of the polytechnic.
“In the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, we have zero tolerance for sexual harassment, we have zero tolerance for cult activities, rioting and sorting for marks”, he said.
“It is very difficult to be able to sort out a particular lecturer that collects sorting for marks; but we need evidence to deal with one person and the rest will take notice of it.
“Since January, 2019, when I took over as the Rector up till now, you will never hear of any cult clash. I don’t think you will hear, at all, that students are rioting.
“We have done matriculation here, we have done convocation, and we will continue to do academic exercises. But we have not registered any level of protest, not even once since I took over as Rector. I am simply a servant-leader, and not a cocky fellow.
“By the grace of God, we have provided the necessary amenities and the necessary things to keep our students in order and make them happy.
“We have accommodation now for N30,000 per annum with internet facility, standby (power) generating set and water. That is what it takes to maintain a hostel.
“So, at any given time, a student can do his or her assignments without necessarily buying data. This is a polytechnic that cares, but we don’t condone any form of corruption”.
While conducting the reporters round the institution’s woodcraft and cabinet centre, the showroom and shopping mall under construction, the Akwapoly Rector also revealed that the students produce many of the facilities used in the polytechnic.
“Here, if we want to build a toilet or we want to build a two or three storey building, we don’t buy blocks. We get our students to do the job because we have what it takes to enable them learn and produce quality products.
“They produce iron doors in the Mechanical Engineering department. Everything that is done outside – the block moulding, tables, and wooden doors- we produce them here now.
“The science technology department produces hand sanitizer, disinfectant and whatever you can think of, we produce them here. The skills our students acquire here will make them self reliant when they graduate”, Dr Moses Umobong said.
According to Umobong, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) would be coming soon to accredit some of the programmes in the polytechnic.
He said: “Within the period, we have been able to out up the mechanical engineering workshop, and we are ready for the accreditation.
“We have all the equipment. We have purchased all the equipment with the money given to us by the state government.
“What is left now is the (ongoing) staff recruitment. Once we finish with that, we will invite them, and they will come. And whether we like it or not, we will get it”.
The Rector, Moses Umobong added that the institution has not increase its fees since inception of his administration.
“This is a government-owned institution. It has a Governing Council. It is not a one man show. Whatever we do here, we are subject to the governing council, and the ministry of education.
“Students only pay fees to the school’s designated accounts. Since I resumed in 2019, we have not increased the fees by even half a kobo.
“I am guided here by the rules. The rules apply. We have a Governing Council. And with that, there are checks and balances.
“Nobody is untouchable because the law is always there to guide. And nobody can say, ‘I can breach the law with impunity’, nobody can say so because the law does not respect any person.
“We thank God for what His Excellency the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Visitor to the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic is doing in our institution. We are grateful to him in all ramifications”, he said.
