Lawmakers Visit Offa Polytechnic, promise better learning environment 

As part of the legislative efforts to improve Polytechnic and Technical Education in Nigeria, the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education has paid a visit to the Federal Polytechnic Offa in Kwara State North Central Nigeria, with a promise to improve and build a better environment for the Polytechnic Community.

The House Committee members who were on an oversight function were led by Fuad Laguda representing Surulere 1 in Lagos State and received by the Rector, Engr.  Kamoru Kadiri and other Principal Officers of the Polytechnic at the institution’s main Campus.

In an interview with Newsmen, Fuad said the oversight exercise is to carry out a performance check and stretch the hands of partnership to the institution.

According to him, “The 10th Assembly has been moving interesting and productive bills to improve the Polytechnic sector. Other Polytechnics also come up with the same funding issue; as a committee, we intend to make a case in the next year’s budget and the coming years to improve the Polytechnic funding.”

He commended the management of the Polytechnic for the initiative and efforts to generate alternative power for the Polytechnic.

“I commend the Federal Polytechnic Offa for working on how to off the grid and generate sources for the school, which is a laudable project and impressive one. If our support is needed in achieving that, we will definitely support them,” he said.

Earlier in his opening address, the Rector acknowledged the Members of the House of Representatives for their painstaking efforts to visit the Polytechnic for an oversight exercise that aims to improve the Polytechnic sector in Nigeria.

Engr.  Kadiri stated that the Polytechnic is a major sector that can move the nation forward in terms of technological advancements and should not be neglected.

While expressing optimism for better Polytechnic education in Nigeria, the Rector preached cordial relationship with the House Committee on improved funding, facility, infrastructure, and intervention for the Polytechnics.

Speaking on challenges, Kadiri noted the paucity of funds as a major challenge retarding the growth of the Polytechnic sector in Nigeria.

He attributed the initiative of the management to off the national grid and generate power to the humongous bills of 11 million Naira per month to settle power, which is not sustainable for the Polytechnic.

The Rector equally highlighted the efforts of the management to boost its Internally Generated Revenue by moving the Polytechnic from consumption to production of basic commodities.

The Rector also urged the Government to grant Polytechnic approval to award degrees to scrap the lingering issue of the dichotomy between the HND and BSc in Nigeria.