PLAPOLY Matriculates 4,500 Students

By Jide Afolabi, Jos

The Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi Wednesday, matriculated 4,500 students into various schools and departments .

PLAPOLY Plateau

The matriculation ceremony was held at the main campus of the institution in Heipang, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau state.

The ceremony was declared open by the Rector of the institution, Mr. Dauda G. Gyemang.

Deans of various schools presented the matriculants to the Registrar who in turn presented them to the Rector.

The Rector however presented them to the Oath Commissioner, Mrs. Oluwatosin M. Mafuyai, a Chief Magistrate for administration of the Matriculation Oath.

In his address, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Mr. Dauda Gyemang urged the newly matriculated students to “count it a privilege to have been chosen out of the twenty three thousand candidates that applied for admission into the Polytechnic, only about four thousand, five hundred were granted admission”.

The Rector who is in his second term final year, while conducting his last matriculation used the opportunity to enumerate his achievements since he took over in 2010.

He stated that the school has improved in the area of construction of basic teaching, learning and structural facilities.

He listed some of the achievements to include; ensuring the sustenance of accreditation and reaccreditation of 18 courses at Higher National Diploma (HND) level and 21 at the National Diploma (ND) level by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE); with five National Certificate of Education (NCE) programmes accredited by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE); Introduction of part-time Weekend Higher National Diploma in Public Administration, Accounting, Business Administration and Management; and Introduction of School of Information and Communication Technology.

Others are; Drilling of Borehole in Jos Campus; Establishment of campus radio (Rock FM); Production of maiden edition of PLAPOLY Magazine tagged Plapoly Heritage Magazine; Sponsorship of Staff to he annual Senior Staff Games of Nigeria Polytechnics and Construction of ultramodern school clinic with state of the art facilities with assistance from Hon. Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe among others.

However, he identified some challenges facing the institution. These include insufficient hostels, power problem, broken down vehicles, road networks and landscaping of Jos campus, inadequate staff, office accommodation and lecture hall among others. He sought the assistance of the state government to address these problems.

He however advised “newly admitted students to ensure strict compliance to the rules and regulations of the Polytechnic, indulge in fervent study of books, stay away from examination malpractices and cultism and affiliate yourself with the right set of people”.

He added that “the Polytechnic frowns at insubordination, disobedience to school authority and will not hesitate to deal with anybody found violating any of the virtues that the institution stands for”.

He thanked the Governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong for releasing funds required for the forthcoming accreditation of courses in the Polytechnic. He also thanked the Governing Council, staff, invited guests and students of the institution for their supports.

The Special Guest was the Honourable Commissioner of Higher Education, Plateau state. There were goodwill messages from the representative of Da Gwomg Re Heipang, Chairman, Governing Council, Mr. Kevin Kwaplong and the President of the Students Union Government of the institution.

Other dignitaries at the event were the Deputy Rector, Principal Officers, Directors, Deans, Coordinators, Head of Departments, lecturers and other invited guests.

Plateau State Polytechnic was established in 1978 through edict No. 6 of April that year to provide diverse instruction, training and research in technology, sciences, commerce and humanities.