Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha has announced the rename and the relocation of the state polytechnic to Ehime Mbano.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, said the relocation followed the establishment and siting of Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at the premises of the institution in Umuagwo, with campus at Aboh/Ngor Okpala.
The institution also has a campus at the site of Ahiara Polytechnic, Ahiara, and another campus at the site of the Imo State University of Medical Sciences, pending their recognition.
He said the Imo State Polytechnic campus, Orlu would be named Bishop Shanahan Polytechnic, Orlu with a campus at the site of Mbonu Ojike Polytechnic, Arondizuogu.
To ensure the smooth-take off of the new institutions, Okorocha also appointed eminent indigenes of the state as members of the institution’s governing councils.
For Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, he named Prof. Peter Akanwa and Rev. Fr. Wenceslaus Madu as vice chancellor and chairman, respectively.
Members are Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Permanent Secretary, Tertiary Education.
The Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu zones are also represented on the governing council by Okenze Sylvester Obinna, Eze Emmanuel Ibechia and Jerry Okoli.
The traditional institution is also represented by Eze I. Obiefule
For the Bishop Shanahan Polytechnic, Orlu, Prof. Aloysuis Onyek is rector while Dr. (Mrs.) Uche Ejiogu is chairman.
Members are Permanent Secretaries, Ministry of Finance, Agriculture and Tertiary Education.
The Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu zones are represented in council by Chinyere Uwanwu, Emma Nwosu and Festus Anwiagu respectively.
The Imo State Polytechnic, Ehime Mbano has Dr. Kingley Ekechukwu as rector and Innocent Eke as chairman.
Members are Permanent Secretaries of Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Tertiary Education.
The Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu zones are represented by Mrs. Ego Ibeh, Joy Mbawuike and Alhaji Ozo, respectively.
Why is Rochas Okorocha establishing all these institutions within about 30 days to his handing over, and probably going to prison?
Why weren’t all these institutions established and functional in the past eight years of his abysmal and dictatorial leadership in Imo State?
Where/how will the current/incoming administration manage these institutions?
Why are these institutions being established with multi campuses? Does Okorocha realize that it takes a lot of funding to operate multi campus institutions.
Is this a way to fool the people of Imo State that he, Okorocha is a Governor that places education first, while he was busy embezzling the state’s funds, and enriching his family, friends and in-laws?
I feel it late now for Okorocha to effect any changes to the educational system of Imo State.
To buttress my point, some of these institutions and the so-called campuses should be established within the same vicinity for cost effectiveness. For example, if a lecturer in Mathematics is employed, he/she could be used to teach in two campuses at different times/hours. This will increase productivity, and save cost of paying two or more lecturers who teach the same course, and do not live far from each other.