From Princely Onyenwe
Following the misinformation beclouding the QR- codes on student’s results and allied matters, U.O. Iwuji, PhD, SA (Media) to the Rector has opened up to state the facts and set the records straight against further misinformation.
Read him:
It has become expedient to correct the wave of misinformation on QR-Codes on certificates and matters relating to textbooks and O/Level verification. There seems to be a calculated attempt to defame the Management of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede. This is even while the Management evidently works hard to make the institution maintain its leading position in the country.
The introduction of the Quick Response (QR) codes on certificates and other sensitive documents such as Statement of Result and transcripts is a commendable idea mooted by the Rector in line with his Smart Campus Project to check incidences of fake results. This was after the sad event of 2021 when NYSC sent the Polytechnic the results of four fake students who claimed they were students of the institution.
It is commendable that the Federal Polytechnic Nekede had commenced the process of having the QR-codes on the results before an official memo by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) directing all Polytechnics to embrace the technology. It is only natural that the process would come with an additional cost implication. The Management in its wisdom pegged the price of collecting the Statement of Results and Certificates which carry the technology at N5000 and 10000, respectively. It is important to posit that the QR-Code makes a student’s results valuable anywhere in the world.
In clear terms, the credibility or otherwise of a result is easily discovered with the technology. And the Federal Polytechnic Nekede is already blazing a trail in this direction. Now, instead of commending Management for this noble step, some people go to the social media to make misguided remarks against the institution. It is even more unfortunate that some students are allegedly rejecting the new technology of checking fraudulent results, obviously out of ignorance.
On the issue of textbooks, the Management has set the pace in moderation by making the price pf textbooks affordable. It is on record that the Federal Polytechnic Nekede has the lowest price regime in textbooks across higher institutions in Nigeria where there is virtually no price ceiling.
It is on record that the maximum price of textbooks in the institution is N2500 while the minimum is N800. It is commendable that the Rector declared that textbooks are not compulsory; what more, students are at liberty to report any lecturer who sells textbooks above approved prices. Instructively, four phone numbers were released to students to make their complaints. It therefore beggars belief that any student is complaining of extortion in this regard.
Regarding the O/Level verification, it is important to note that the West African Examination Council (WAEC) recently increased their verification fee by 100 percent, where the owner of a certificate is expected to pay for its verification. The said verification is paid at the point of entry into ND I and HND I. Instead of agitating, students have a choice of changing to other institutions where they admit students without verification or where the institution bears the cost of verifying students’ results.
Having gone this far, it is unfortunate that some students are still being misguided in believing that Nigerian students in Federal Polytechnic Nekede are extorted. We have taken note of the purveyors of the defamatory remarks on the social media against the Polytechnic Management.
Their aim is to discredit the institution to achieve sinister motives. It has become necessary to tell these merchants of fake news to steer clear of the institution as law enforcement agencies have been directed to do the needful. The Rector remains undaunted in the task of taking the Polytechnic to the greatest height possible.
Under the leadership of Engr. Dr. M.C. Arimanwa FNSE, JP, the Federal Polytechnic Nekede has maintained an enviable position as the number one polytechnic and the most-sought-after polytechnic in Nigeria. The number of schools and programme has increased, thereby giving students latitude to make informed choices in career prospects. The institution has not lost accreditation under the Rector.
Students now pay only N50 per drop while using the newly launched campus shuttle buses. There is a massive deployment of digital infrastructure and technology to make Nigerian students better in their studies. Ultimately, the Rector is deliberate and capable enough to keep the institution’s flag flying high.
Let it be noted by the public that the Rector and his team of Management are guided by reason what they do. Thus, whatever decision they take is justifiable and in the interest Nigerian students.
In a related development, the management of the school has released Ten key questions to be answered by students of Federal Polytechnic Nekede to enable its be guided against any form misinformation as stated below:
Who told you the Rector of the institution does not love you when he has made textbooks optional for you and given you numbers to call when you are exploited?
Who told you the Rector of the institution does not love you when he has improved learning conditions and given you a great infrastructure to maximize?
Who told you the Rector does not love you when he has reduced the cost of transportation to just N50 and introduced shuttle buses in the institution.
Who told you the Rector does not love you when he has given you a smart campus where operations are digitized, safe and credible?
Who told you the Rector does not love you when he does not do anything without considering the Nigerian students?
Now, who told you that you do not need the O/Level verification? Only an ignoramus could make one believe a lie.
Who told you that you do not need the Quick Response Code on your result? Only an ignoramus could make you believe a lie.
Who told you that you do if you demonstrate now that you have achieved a feat? Only an ignoramus could make you believe a lie because the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages. In fact there is no single advantage there because what the Rector has done regarding the QR-code and result is in line with directives from the Federal Government, NBTE and WAEC.
Who told you that you should demonstrate when his children and siblings are somewhere out of danger. Only an ignoramus could make you believe a lie.
Who told you the Federal Polytechnic Nekede is exploiting you when you have not visited other higher institutions around to see textbooks sold between 5k and 10k, and students have no option of complaining to anyone?
The management therefore call on the students of Federal Polytechnic Nekede to be guided and follow the truth and not to be mislead by anyone or group of persons.
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