Written by: Our Reporter
Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua on Wednesday hosted officials of the International Psychometrics Center, Ibadan and the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, who were in the Polytechnic for the official presentation of Scholarship Award to Comrade Victor Nkodi, a student of the Department of Electrical Electronics, Faculty of Engineering, who emerged overall best student at the just concluded Psychometrics Studies examination.
Psychometrics Studies is a newly introduced compulsory course by the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, for all Polytechnics and College of Education in Nigeria.
Federal Polytechnic, Bida is the first Nigerian Polytechnic to have administered the online course and examination to students under the pilot scheme, while Akwapoly is the second. The examination saw Engineering students of both Institutions emerging as overall best students, thereby clinching the One Hundred Thousand Naira Scholarship Award that goes with the feat.
Speaking at the award presentation ceremony at the Polytechnic, the Chairman, Governing Council, International Center for Psychometrics Studies, Ibadan, who was represented by Mr Ayo Aroge, commended the Rector, Management and Polytechnic’s Psychometrics Desk Office for a job well done, stating that despite initial protest and resistance from the students following the compulsory introduction of the course by NBTE, Akwapoly is the only Polytechnic where the total number of students who registered for the online course, tallied with the total number of students who clicked the submit button at the end of the online examination, submitting that this was a testimony to the fact that both the Akwa Ibom State Government and the Polytechnic Community had long embraced technology and ICT for effective teaching and learning.
He noted with delight that though the course entails everything from point of registration to examination to be done online, Akwapoly students were not lacking in the much-needed technical know-how of how to access the platform to register, study and take the exams, as the very successful nature of the exam is a confirmation that Akwapoly students have imbibed the technological skills needed in a 21st century dynamic global economy.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, NBTE, Prof Idris Magaji, represented by Mr Jacob Igo, advised Nigerian students to accept the reality that online education has come to stay in the country. He commended Akwapoly Management and the Psychometrics Desk Officer, Dr Awak, for the effective take off and smooth implementation of the policy in Akwapoly, and admonished the Polytechnic to ensure it keys into the Open Flexible Distance E-Learning policy towards becoming a Center.
Prof Magaji said Psychometrics Studies and Computer Based Test, CBT, have come to stay in Nigeria and advised students to see the course as one that will have a life long positive impact on their lives, and encouraged them to embrace Psychometrics Studies with an open and liberal mind as doing so will help them discover their passion and talent towards guiding them in their career choice.
Responding, an elated Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Moses Umobong, thanked God for the feat, stating that the victory of an Akwapoly student emerging as overall best student in the examination is an indication that Akwapoly is working, and a confirmation to the quality of learning and entrepreneural training Students receive in the Polytechnic.
He noted that he took over when the Institution was ranked 99th in the country but has moved to the 18th position in the recent Nigerian Polytechnic ranking released in August 2021, assuring that he will do all in his power to ensure the Institution gets back to its rightful place of being among the best four in the country.
Dr Umobong noted with delight and pride that Akwapoly products are distinguishing themselves in their chosen career as recently, students from the Department of Science Lab Tech won a national competition which had students from renowned Universities and Polytechnic’s in the country competing and also, the current Chairman of the Ikot Ekpene branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, is a proud alumni of the Institution.
He explained that recently, former students of the Institution recently invited him to lay the foundation stone for their alumni association building inside the Polytechnic and the architect handling the construction is a former student, a testimony to the capacity of the Institution’s products to excel in their chosen field of human endeavor.
The Rector commended the Visitor to the Polytechnic and Governor of the State, His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel, for creating a condusive academic environment for learning to thrive and dedicated the award to God, the Management and staff of the Institution for their teamwork, devotion and dedication to duty and vowed to leave no stone unturned in ensuring the enthronement of academic excellence, stating that what has happened is a clear proof that his students can compete favourably anywhere in Nigeria or aboard which explains the high number of Akwapoly students who pass the ICAN Professional examination in flying colours among other examination and competition.
Addressing the gathering, the Director of Academic Planning, Mrs Eduma Essien, thanked the NBTE and the International Psychometrics Center, Ibadan, for the visit, assuring that with the template on ground in the Polytechnic, other Institutions in the country will come to learn how to implement the programe as Akwapoly has provided an unrivalled benchmark which will be used to evaluate the programme in the country.
Speaking to reporters, the ASUP Chairman, Comrade Eteyen Uko, expressed satisfaction that the feat achieved is a further proof to the dedication to work and mentorship role of academic staff of the Polytechnic to students, reiterating the determination of lecturers to grooming globally competitive students. He assured that academic excellence will not be compromised under any guise.
Responding, the scholarship awardee, Comrade Victor Nkodi, who was represented by the Dean, School of Engineering, Engr Immaculater Akpan, thanked God for the achievement and urged Akwapoly students to embrace Psychometrics Studies with an open mind to learn and benefit from it’s numerous life changing contents and value and dedicated the award to God.
