Michael Abiodun
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has ranked Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo, as the best in the country.
Masa’udu Kazaure, executive secretary of the board, made this known in Kaduna on Thursday.
Kazaure said the polytechnic emerged the best after scoring 85.08 percent in the assessment of 112 federal, state and private polytechnics in the country.
He said the exercise covered the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 academic sessions.
Kazaure said the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro came second with 73.08 percent while Kaduna Polytechnic came third with 72.31 percent.
Other polytechnics in the top 10 include The Polytechnic Ibadan, ranked fourth; Federal Polytechnic Bida is fifth while Auchi Polytechnic is ranked sixth.
Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, is seventh while Federal Polytechnic Offa, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic and Yaba College of Technology jointly occupy the eighth position.
Federal Polytechnic Oko was ranked 11th while Federal Polytechnic, Idah, is 12th best in Nigeria.
The NBTE boss said when disaggregated by ownership, Federal Polytechnic Nekede also emerged the best federal polytechnic in the country followed by Federal Polytechnic Ilaro and Kaduna Polytechnic.
“The Polytechnic Ibadan, IMT and Rufus Giwa polytechnics were the highest ranked among state polytechnics, while Lagos City Polytechnic is the highest ranked private polytechnic and the 16th in the country,” he said.
“Dorben Polytechnic and Heritage Polytechnic were the second and third best private polytechnic in the country.”
Kazaure explained that the polytechnics were ranked based on the total number of programmes with full accreditation in the last two years and percentage of programmes with full accreditation.
He said: “Other criteria include proportion of academic staff showing the right mix, that is, chief lecturer and principal lecturer down to assistant lecturer; and ability of institution to introduce programme in new and emerging fields.
“They were equally assessed based on capacity building of staff both within and outside Nigeria, teaching quality, including staff /student ratio and ratio of full-time to part-time staff.
“Other areas are availability of current campus master plan, strategic plan, and academic brief; percentage of academic staff with relevant higher qualification and professional registration; and 70:30 technology-non-technology enrolment ratio.
“Another consideration was the incorporation of entrepreneurship education into the institute’s curriculum and fully established Entrepreneurship Development Centre.”
You would think that Oshiomhole will be commended for his forthright decision on direct primaries. No. There are two major groups tackling Oshiomhole.
Abba Adakole
Our clever-by-half politicians have been all over the place of late. They have been defecting, re-defecting and un-defecting from one party to another. While some of them have tried to explain away the reasons behind dumping the parties that gave them the platform to win elections and be in government, others have ended up coming across as dumb in their own attempt to explain. Yet in all this miasma of political peregrinations is the common denominator of selfish interests. What these nomadic politicians are not willing to disclose is their inordinate ambition to contest the 2019 general election – even if their political parties consider them unworthy to fly their flags.
So when such a politician comes with the tales by moonlight, just be sure that it is all about 2019. As everyone can see, the politicians are now visiting home; they are talking to the people and feigning humility and accountability! As much as these politicians are parroting internal democracy and the lack of it in their former political parties, it is altogether doubtful if they indeed understand the way democracy works.
One of the defining features of liberal democracy is periodic elections. Election provides citizens the great opportunity for enjoying their constitutional right of franchise. It affords citizens the chance to vote for and be voted for. Beyond the opportunity to exercise vote choice is the fact that elections provide political parties with the opportunity of putting its members in power by forming a government. And because of the realisation that those in government are not angels but human beings with their own frailties, the logic of democracy further dictates that these elections have to take place periodically, in our case, every four years. This is to afford the electorate the chance to review the performance of their elected officials – executives and legislators – and either renew their mandate or vote them out.
It means that elections are instruments of vertical accountability that empowers the electorate to reward or sanction a given official. It does not matter whether that official is a president, governor, senator or local government chairman. What is important though is that an election is proof that power belongs to the people. However, the experience of the Nigerian electorate with their leaders cannot be said to be an assuring one. If anything, the Nigerian voter since the introduction of the elective principle in 1922 has consistently been swindled. The same basic problems of governance that have bedevilled the country especially from the Second Republic are clearly more complicated today. Whether you consider absence of good roads, poor electricity supply, lack of potable water, poor healthcare delivery, poor funding of education, corruption, abuse of office, etc., the story is that of compounded woes.
Whereas it is axiomatic that there is a positive correlation between liberal democracy and economic development, the Nigerian democracy is yet to yield the dividends to our people. Our politicians are still at this pedestrian level of asphalting theory of democracy by chronicling the few kilometres of road tarred as major dividends of democracy. And why are citizens not asking the right questions? Why has a system noted for improving the life chances of ordinary people globally not producing the same cheery results in our own domain? Why are Nigerians poorer in the last two decades that their country has earned the most revenue in history?
The answer is quite simple. Our elections have been perverted to the extent that they no longer perform the basic democratic function of rewarding effective leadership and punishing a poor one.
You would think that Oshiomhole will be commended for his forthright decision on direct primaries. No. There are two major groups tackling Oshiomhole. Understandably the first is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which sees something sinister in the idea. Although its opposition to direct primaries can hardly change anything in the ruling party, it went ahead to allege of an illusory plan to use the result of the APC direct president primaries to “justify” a rigged result in the 2019 presidential election for President Buhari. How imaginative? PDP if not for its disorientation, as a matter of fact, needs direct primaries more than the APC. As an opposition party, facing a huge image overhang as a direct consequence of its poor performance in sixteen years, the PDP needs an exceptionally popular candidate to win any election in the country. And that kind of popularly acceptable candidate can only be thrown up by a direct primary shorn of the manipulations of godfathers in the corrupt delegate system. But it seems that PDP is yet to learn any lessons from its bloodied nose in 2015.
Oshiomhole as a former governor understands why state governors are the second group behind the surreptitious and slimy campaign against direct primaries in his party. Governors pose the greatest obstacle to democratic practice in Nigeria. Yes, governors nominate ministers for the President, choose who will be local government chairmen, who will run for the state assembly slot in all the constituencies in the state, who will go to Abuja as senators and members of the House of Representatives and who must replace them if they are on their second term! Those on their second term not only want to foist their successors even if their personal choice as in Imo State is considered irritating to their people; they also want to grab the senate ticket for themselves or their wives. They are opposed to direct primaries because indirect primaries make it easier to buy up all the delegates and foist unpopular candidates on their party.
This battle to enthrone direct primaries should not be left to Oshiomhole alone to fight. All lovers of democracy irrespective of party affiliations need to lend a hand. One of the key institutions where corrupt elections, which indirect primaries represent has undermined is the Senate.
Today, the red chamber which ought to be the bastion of our contemplative politics and policy-making has been reduced to a sanctuary for corrupt former governors hiding from the law.
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Adakole writes from Abuja via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
A Third Republic Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District, Anietie Okon has declared that he single-handedly made Emmanuel Udom Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
This is against general belief that the Governor was chosen by the immediate past Governor Godswill Akpabio.
Akon, who became the first National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the onset of the Fourth Republic, also lambasted Senator Akpabio for defecting from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Asked how Udom intends to win the next election having lost Akpabio’s support, Akon, said, “That’s crap! How could he have done that? I was the tower of strength and credibility that pushed and marketed Udom because I had had previous dealings with him and could attest to his integrity, brilliance and his moral anchors.”
On Akpabio’s defection, he continued, “It is very disappointing, very , very disappointing for the same lack of real commitment to the principles and ideologies of enhancing the condition of the state.
“I have had some very vacuous statements that he left in the national interest. I think a more appropriate description should have been that he left because he could not stand the heat of the revelations of his inappropriate conduct and almost mindless vandalism of the treasury of the state and of our commonwealth.
“So when he talks about reconnecting Akwa Ibom and the federal government, how do you make of that? It is completely illogical. It is akin to the statement which some criminals when they are caught always say as a cause for redemption.
“Some people of this state have asked some of us why did we not take action earlier. They say that until a crime is committed and discovered, you don’t know that it exists. It will be difficult to find harsher words for the basic elements of treachery of the cause of our people, that is what the defection amounts to.
“The only things that he had achieved in public life, the opportunities had been granted and provided by the people of the state
“As you would have seen, he seems to have a heavier baggage than others to account for. You know the APC waves a wand of forgiveness whenever they go to surrender all their sins are forgiven.”
A Third Republic Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District, Anietie Okon has declared that he single-handedly made Emmanuel Udom Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
This is against general belief that the Governor was chosen by the immediate past Governor Godswill Akpabio.
Akon, who became the first National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the onset of the Fourth Republic, also lambasted Senator Akpabio for defecting from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Asked how Udom intends to win the next election having lost Akpabio’s support, Akon, said, “That’s crap! How could he have done that? I was the tower of strength and credibility that pushed and marketed Udom because I had had previous dealings with him and could attest to his integrity, brilliance and his moral anchors.”
On Akpabio’s defection, he continued, “It is very disappointing, very , very disappointing for the same lack of real commitment to the principles and ideologies of enhancing the condition of the state.
“I have had some very vacuous statements that he left in the national interest. I think a more appropriate description should have been that he left because he could not stand the heat of the revelations of his inappropriate conduct and almost mindless vandalism of the treasury of the state and of our commonwealth.
“So when he talks about reconnecting Akwa Ibom and the federal government, how do you make of that? It is completely illogical. It is akin to the statement which some criminals when they are caught always say as a cause for redemption.
“Some people of this state have asked some of us why did we not take action earlier. They say that until a crime is committed and discovered, you don’t know that it exists. It will be difficult to find harsher words for the basic elements of treachery of the cause of our people, that is what the defection amounts to.
“The only things that he had achieved in public life, the opportunities had been granted and provided by the people of the state
“As you would have seen, he seems to have a heavier baggage than others to account for. You know the APC waves a wand of forgiveness whenever they go to surrender all their sins are forgiven.”
A video which is currently making rounds on social media, shows two students of the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State, allegedly fighting over a suspected yahoo boy they’re both dating.
According to reports, the fight took place, today, at their hostel near Ijele mosque.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Thursday formally declared his intention to run for the presidency in the 2019 general elections.
In his speech, Saraki promised to set the right course for Nigeria.
1. Let me say, once again, how wonderful it is to see so many talented and purposeful young people at this first edition of the Public Dialogue Series with Political Parties on Youth Candidacy and Party Primaries. Looking at you, I see future leaders who present themselves as capable and worthy to take on the mantle of leadership in this country, and this gladdens my heart.
2. From my interactions with many of you, and with your contemporaries across the country, I can see that we are blessed with a determined generation that stands ready to join with us to power a Nigerian renaissance. The quality of people I see here today affirms my belief that, indeed, you are Not Too Young To Run.
4. It is widely acknowledged that ours is a relatively ‘young’ country bursting with tremendous energy, ability and potential. More than 70 per cent of our population is under the age of 40. You are indeed the future of this country. Ordinarily, such a young population would be the envy of many Western countries that are faced with ageing populations, but the dire state of our affairs tarnishes the youthful advantage that we have.
5. Up and down our country today, Nigerians are crying out for succour. Many of our children are hungry. Many people are dying of avoidable or otherwise treatable diseases. Many have fallen below basic living standards, and are now among the 87 million that sealed Nigeria’s position as the country with the highest number of people in extreme poverty. Our young people lack opportunities. The necessary education facilities and system to equip them for the future simply do not exist. We are not creating the jobs needed to usefully engage them in order to grow our economy. And too often, the youth feel shut out, prevented from having any say in the direction of this nation.
6. The harsh conditions of extreme poverty faced by the people, fuels the state of insecurity all over the country. Hunger, lack of education and lack of opportunities push many Nigerians into criminal activities including terrorism. Many of our communities are paralysed with fear – due to incessant communal crises, kidnappings and other social ills, as well as the threat of terrorism. We are failing abysmally to tackle the problems of today and to prepare for the future.
7. Our economy is broken and is in need of urgent revival in order for Nigeria to grow. GDP growth rate has declined. Diversification remains an illusion. Unemployment is at an all-time high. Businesses are shutting down. Jobs are being lost in record numbers, and the capital needed to jumpstart our economy is going elsewhere.
8. Nigeria is perhaps more divided now than ever before. We are increasingly divided along regional, religious and ethnic lines. Nigerians are also divided by class, a festering gulf between the ‘Haves’ and the ‘Have-Nots’. The fault lines of this nation are widening to an alarming degree. We must do something fast, and we must be brave about it.
9. We must ensure the security of lives in Nigeria. As things stand now, no one is safe in this country. No one feels truly safe. We must restore the sanctity of the rule of law and strengthen democratic institutions in order to build a just, fair and equitable society for all. We must rebuild the trust of our people in government. We need a new generation of leaders that are competent, with the capability to rise to the challenges of the 21st century. We must pull this country back together and rebuild, block by block, with dedication and commitment.
10. You will agree with me that this is an urgent task that requires the concerted efforts of each and every one of us. If we look around today, what do we see? What is the condition of our citizens? Where are we as a nation? How are we perceived locally and internationally? Why are we not making the expected progress? Why are we not growing? There is no time to waste. The time is now, to come together to stimulate growth in Nigeria, especially in the national economy.
11. The choice we face in the forthcoming election is either to keep things as they are, or make a radical departure from the old ways. To find a better way of doing things or keep repeating the mistakes of the past. To fix the problems or keep compounding them.
12. It is with all these in mind, and taking account of the challenges that I have outlined, that I have decided to answer the call of teeming youth who have asked me to run for President. Accordingly, I hereby announce my intention to run for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the coming General Elections in 2019 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). I do so with the firm conviction that I have what it takes to secure inclusive growth for Nigeria and Nigerians.
13. My Plan for Nigeria has inclusion in all aspects of the country’s affairs as a central pillar. Every citizen has the inalienable right to feel a sense of belonging, no matter their background or creed, or what part of the country they come from. No matter who you voted for or what your convictions are, government must work for you.
14. Your generation does not deserve to live in the poverty capital of the world. It is no longer an issue of how we got here, but how do we get out of this situation? I promise you that I will lead the fight and employ every God-given resource available to us in turning things around. I am determined to grow Nigeria out of poverty. We will stimulate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as one of the ways of energising the economy and to create wealth for our people, especially the youth.
15. I want to see the youth play major roles at all levels, not only in government but also in the private sector and indeed in every area of Nigerian life. This will be a government driven by youthful energy, innovation and a pioneering entrepreneurial spirit. Nigerian youth will be given all the opportunities to realise their potential to the full within a national framework that guarantees inclusiveness. For youth who have ideas and capacity, we will make sure that there is funding for their ventures; and we shall build on the Made in Nigeria legislation as part of our job creation drive.
16. My plan is to secure Nigeria by redesigning our national security architecture, while adequately equipping our security agencies to fulfil their primary role of protecting lives and property.
17. I will address our infrastructural deficit through aggressive financing initiatives including mutually beneficial PPP arrangements, regular floating of bonds and other financial instruments, which will ensure stable, adequate and reliable funding to see to the completion of core projects especially road, rail and power.
18. My plan is to protect all Nigerians and defend their constitutional rights and freedoms. I will stand for and uphold at all times the principle of the rule of law, which is the bedrock of democratic governance.
19. Ours will not be a selective fight against corruption. The emphasis will be on strengthening institutions, with a particular focus on deterrence. We cannot afford to compromise our institutions with proxy wars against perceived political opponents. We see the fight against corruption as crucial to Nigeria’s economic development.
20. I offer leadership driven by empathy. Where leaders are responsive to the citizens. Where they know that government cares. We will not be indifferent or turn a blind eye to the real concerns of our people. Every single Nigerian life matters.
21. For me, the leadership we deserve is one that will be a source of pride to all Nigerians, one that will be respected and admired in Africa and around the world. It should be a leadership that can hold its own and stand tall anywhere in the world. That is the type of leadership I offer.
22. As a former two-term Governor and currently President of the Senate by the grace of God, I believe I possess a unique blend of executive and legislative experience to push for and implement reforms that will deliver real improvements in the daily lives of our people. I know what it takes to create jobs and grow the economy. I can make the tough decisions when it matters. I will spearhead a new agenda that can transform the lives of ordinary Nigerians in real terms.
23. Believe me when I say that it will not be business as usual. This will be a dynamic government of action that will pursue the growth of Nigeria with doggedness, determination and conviction. I will lead a result-driven administration. We shall set targets with clear timelines to ensure that anticipated deliverables are met. You can benchmark us and hold us accountable. In short, I assure you that I will deliver on all promises. What I envision is a new chapter in governance in this country. We will be driven by what is best for Nigerians.
25. I have deliberately chosen the opportunity of being here with you, my Number One constituency who I see as the future of our great country, to make my intention known. I believe the Nigerian youth are critical to rebuilding and growing the economy, and restoring our national pride.
26. I therefore ask you and all well-meaning Nigerians to join hands with me in this noble cause.
My brothers, My sisters, Let’s Grow Nigeria Together.
God bless you all.
