The Rector of Auchi Polytechnic, Dr. Sanusi Jimah, says the institution has been positioned to lead other tertiary institutions as the pathfinder in technology innovations for the growth of the country.
Jimah said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Benin, the Edo capital.
According to him, the polytechnic was challenged by the recent NUC sweeping indictment on higher institutions’ seeming poor performance on forward-looking research and development beneficial to the country.
He said that the school was now poised to live up to its billing as a pioneer technical institution and citadel of knowledge driven by zeal and quest for technological advancements.
” I must tell you that through research, the polytechnic has developed five avant-garde innovations.
“We have developed a solar farm house refrigerator for storage of vegetables and other perishable farm products.
” The biogas facility is developed to generate power from waste; the fork lift furnace for improved welding capability; two feed mills for producing poultry feeds and the cocoa depodding machine for removing cocoa Pods.
“Though some are still in their experimental stages, but I can confirm that the feed machine is fully operational now on campus and we are considering going commercial with it.
“We no longer buy feeds for our poultry farm in Area 3, as we now produce our own feeds. We only buy concentrate and produce the feeds for our use.
“For now, we supply 45 crates of eggs daily from the farms while we are looking for commercial farmers to collaborate with on the cocoa depodding machines to increase our internal revenue generation.
“So far, these innovations are alien to most higher institutions in Nigeria,” he said.
The Rector also spoke on efforts to enhance infrastructure, staff development, teaching and learning environment in the polytechnic.
“However, management needed to expand the infrastructure to cope with the growing students population because of their preference for Auchi Polytechnic.
” We recently commissioned studios, lecture theatres and laboratories in this regard.
“In all of these achievements at providing infrastructure and equipment, we must commend TETfund for its dedication to improving the learning environment on our campuses.
“Its intervention projects have solved alot of our problems in all facets of the Polytechnic,” he said.\
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He added: “Because our students deserve the best in instructions, the Polytechnic has continued to enhance its staff development policy.
” Through the TETfund interventions, the Polytechnic in the past two years has sponsored staff to acquire higher degrees.
” I dare say that we have nearly 100 Phd holders in Auchi Polytechnic with 32 staff currently on masters degrees programs while others have gone on National and international workshops to be up to date with current international best practices in knowledge acquisition and impacting same to students.
” We are going to download these programs down the ladder to enable staff to move with the trend and remain relevant in the education system.”
According to him, the management has brought new lease of life to the institution with zero tolerance to all forms of negative vices.
“The Polytechnic has enhanced the standard of discipline in the last two years. I can report with some confidence that incidences of of money for marks, amorous gratification for grades and other unethical practices have been largely curbed.
“So in terms of academic rating, l am proud to say that Webometrics, an international rating agency of tertiary institutions worldwide, has rated Auchi Polytechnic the best in Nigeria.
” This is the outcome of ratings released in July last year. Until new ratings are done we remain the best,” Jimah said.(NAN)