By Princely Onyenwe, Abuja
Thursday 5-05-2022, recorded another milestone in Federal Polytechnic Nekede amid ovations and fanfare as the CIBN Bankers Hall was commissioned. The exquisite ultramodern edifice is a legacy project bequeathed to the Federal Polytechnic Nekede by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.
The state-of-the-art edifice is one of the six pilot projects across the six geo-political zones undertaken by the Institute. The Federal Polytechnic Nekede was chosen based on its sterling record as the best-performing tertiary institution in the CIBN linkage programme in the Southeast zone.
The smart, ultramodern edifice which serves as a lecture theatre, demonstration class and multipurpose centre was commissioned by the Executive Governor of Imo State, Sen Hope Uzodinma, who was ably represented by the Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku.
While performing the commissioning ceremony, the Deputy Governor expressed joy at the kind and thoughtful gesture of the CIBN leadership to build legacy projects across the nation aimed at boosting educational enterprise. He described the project as a legacy because it would stand the test of time in adding value to education in the polytechnic.
The former university don and administrator further expressed optimism that the legacy project would enable students of Banking and Finance of the Polytechnic become super bankers in future as the they gear up to leverage on the facility provided by the CIBN. Finally, he urged the Management of the Polytechnic to sustain the tempo of entrepreneurial education which would make graduating students enterprising enough to stand on their own after graduation, rather than seeking elusive white collar jobs.
In his speech at the event, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Engr. Dr. Michael C. Arimanwa FNSE, HCIB, lauded the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria for its kind gesture in building a legacy project Polytechnic. While tracing the history of the institution’s Linkage progamme with the CIBN to 2015, the Rector stated that his administration has deliberately sustained the collaboration to give room to the students of Banking and Finance to leverage on the opportunities so provided by the Linkage to become chartered bankers.
Further, the Poly Chief hinted that in 2020 the Federal Polytechnci Nekeke was rated the best Linkage institution in the Southeast. The Rector described the CIBN as an organization that has shown uncommon commitment to the advancement of the Banking and Finance education in Nigeria, adding that the donation of the Bankers Hall is a gesture that is noble because it is goaded towards uplifting educational standards. Remarkably, the Rector pledged the commitment of the Polytechnic towards the maintenance of the edifice for the sake of posterity.
In his remarks, the President/Chairman of the CIBN Council, Dr. Bayo Olugbemi congratulated the Federal Polytechnic Nekede for emerging the best Linkage institution in the Southeast zone, an accomplishment which he said made the institution a beneficiary of the legacy project. He recalled that the Linkage agreement signed with the Polytechnic on September 16, 2015 has today produced a laudable result that would last though ages, describing the legacy project as a dream come true. He further stated that the project is a modest contribution of the Institute to the development of Banking and Finance in Nigeria, while challenging other corporate organizations to synergize with the government in revamping the educational system.
He lauded the Rector, Engr. Dr M.C. Arimanwa on his numerous achievements in scholarship, digital technology and inventions. Further, he praised the Rector for his “impactful local and international collaborations, and many others too numerous to mention.”
Meanwhile, the Registrar/Chief Executive of the Institute Dr Seye Awojobi, in his remarks, described the Linkage with the Federal Polytechnic as “a rewarding and fruitful relationship,” as according to him, “the Polytechnic has consistently driven the Linkage agreement, encouraging students not only in the Banking and Finance Department, but other Social Sciences to register as members of the Institute and ultimately, write the professional banking examinations.” This commitment according to the CIBN scribe earned the Polytechnic the enviable position of best Linkage institution in the Southeast geo-political zone, and ultimately the beneficiary of the legacy project.
Dr Awojobi further poured encomiums on the Rector of the Polytechnic, Engr Dr M.C. Arimanwa for his pragmatic and purposeful leadership in the institution which has earned it the status of a pace-setter among Nigerian Polytechnics, having been rated best-performing Polytechnic in Nigeria by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the most-sought-after Polytechnic in Nigeria.
Earlier, the acting Chairman of the Governing Council of the Polytechnic, Sqd. Leader Chima Idika Chima (Rtd), applauded the CIBN for bequeathing an exquisite edifice to the institution while thanking the governor for gracing the event through his deputy. He described the Rector as capable and efficient in the management of the Polytechnic which according to him has noble reputation in Nigeria.
In his goodwill message, the Representative of the Ministry of Education, Mr Ayowele Bode, described education as the best legacy, a reason why the ministry had come to identify with the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in its quest to uplift the quality of education in Nigeria, adding that other corporate organizations should emulate the efforts of CIBN in the education sector.
Meanwhile, encomiums have been poured on the Rector of the Polytechnic, Engr. M.C. Arimanwa FNSE for his uncommon dedication to the Linkage programme with the CIBN which has produced an ultra-modern Bankers Hall that is tastefully furnished and equipped.
According to the immediate past Rector of the institution, Prof C.U. Njoku, who was represented by Dr. Anthonia Nwosu, the Rector deserves commendation for sustaining the Linkage programme which she had signed in 2015. For the Dean, School of Business and Management Technology (SBMT), Dr. Lilian Esiagu, the Rector deserves commendation because he “has engendered monumental and ambitious infrastructural and technological transformations in the Polytechnic” with his “multi-dimensional collaborations” that have “given the Polytechnic a global visibility.”
For the Registrar of the Polytechnic, Mrs E.C. Anuna, who gave the vote of thanks at the epochal event, the Rector is a smart and pragmatic leader whose leadership has attracted great projects and goodwill to the Polytechnic.
Dignitaries at the event cut across all strata of the society just as the Polytechnic community came out en masse to savour the euphoria of the ceremony. There was also the Ohafia War Dance on ground to entertain guests at the occasion.
Source: FEDPONEK GAZETTE
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