Exclusive: Rector Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, Dr Sam Kalagbor speaks to TPCN on his administration’s progress so far

The Rector of the Port Harcourt Polytechnic, Dr Sam Kalagbor, spoke to Theportcitynews.com correspondent , John Diidi, in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, about his administration’s progress so far, after the successful completion of the 2nd edition of the Rector’s Cup, on Monday, 5th march 2018.

Enjoy…

TPCN: Good afternoon sir, congratulations on the successful completion of the 2018 Rectors Cup of the Captain Elechi Amadi, Polytechnic. What’s your view about the competition?

Rector: “The football competition among both male and female, is intended primarily to keep them busy, in terms of extra curricular activities. We also use it to promote sporting activities in the polytechnic, and to select teams for the PUGA and other games in the polytechnic sector.

TPCN: This is your second year, since your school became a polytechnic. What has been the achievement of your administration so far?.

Rector: “Well, We have attained Polytechnic status since 2006, the name of the institution was basically changed by the his Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike, to reflect the name Polytechnic. In terms of academics, we have been able to introduce four new HND programs.

“Currently we are preparing for the presentation of about 20 programs to the National Board of Technical Education, for resources inspection and accreditation.

“In terms of academic structure, we have been able to streamline the academic structure in consonance with NPD standards, in respect of polytechnic systems in Nigeria.

“We have also been able to provide furniture for our students. We have been able to renovate some of the dilapidated structures on campus, and provide equipment and other facilities, both our library, our studios and workshop.

“It might also interest you to know that, for the first time, we’ve gone online.

“Results are pasted online, and application forms for those who want to gain admission to the institution are also done online. Payment of fees, registration of courses, so we have transited from the analogue manual system of conducting our administrative activities to the online system.

“There are other things we have done. We have also been able to provide a development master plan for the institution, which will guide both academic and physical development of the institution.

“As part of TETFUND requirement, for purposes of getting the intervention funds, this institution has never had academic brief, we’ve been able to do that.

“Time will fail us to talk about everything, but by the grace of God we have achieved quite enough, and will continue to do that.

“You would recall that over the period, particularly since I resumed office as the Rector of the institution, we have an uninterrupted academic calendar, all using my skill and relationship as an administrator.

TPCN: How has the support of the State Government towards the institution been so far, since the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike?

Rector: “The state government has been very interested in the growth and development of the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic. You would recall that for over 15 years, before the assumption of office of the Governor, Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike, we have been yearning for a change of name to reflect the polytechnic status.

“In 2016, precisely on the 4th of July, the name of the Institution was changed to Port Harcourt Polytechnic and recently the name of the institution was also changed to Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic. Those are indications that the state Government is interested in the growth and development of the Polytechnic.

“But beyond that, the state Governor has approved and released the sum of #200m to the polytechnic for the purposes of accreditation and cross inspection of our courses for 2018.

“Preparations are at an advance stage, to ensure that we present this courses to NBTE for accesment, and we believe that we would succeed.

“Beyond that, it also important to place on record that for the first time, the state Government appropriated about #500m for tertiary institutions in the state, including Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic for purposes of infrastructural development.

“Those are indications, for now to show the level of support we have received and are likely to receive from the state Government.

TPCN: Lastly, in the aspect of infrastructural development, what is the plan of your administration to reflect the current state of a Polytechnic. Because now you have more students coming in, you need more classes, more libraries, and laboratories. So what’s the plan?

Rector: “We already have a ten years development plan, of how we want to development the institution for the next ten years. We believe that we would kick start it, so that successive administrations will follow the development plan in order to enhance the infrastructural and constructional of the institution.

TPCN: Thank you for your time sir.

Rector: God bless you.