The Akwa Ibom State Gov
ernor, Chief Godswill Akpabio has decried an attempt to politicise the establishment of the new federal polytechnic in his country home, Ukana in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District of the State, expressing surprise at the criticism over the siting of the institution in the area.
At a ground-breaking ceremony last Friday, Akpabio said with the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic at Ukana in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, every Senatorial District in Akwa Ibom now has a Federal Government-owned tertiary institution of learning.
Such criticism, he said, does not hold ground as Uyo Senatorial District has the University of Uyo; Eket Senatorial District has Maritime Academy, Oron while Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District now has a Federal Polytechnic.
The Governor pointed out that the Federal Polytechnic would play a unique role in deepening the vision and aspiration of the state for a greater Akwa Ibom State as “it would be a bridge between the federal government and our State and inspire the next generation to make notable contributions as visionary leaders in our state.”
“With this groundbreaking ceremony, we as a people avow happily that we have once again tasted that cake of friendship. We pay joyous tribute to Mr. President for this great act of kindness and this touching seed of generosity.
The Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who stood in for President Jonathan admitted that the institution was to be sited at Akwa Ibom Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua but was changed to the present location due to the intervention of Governor Akpabio through an appeal to Mr. President that the state would lose its institution which churns out many graduates of Akwa Ibom origin yearly.
Wike explained that Governor Akpabio preferred to support federal government in providing facilities at a neutral place for speedy commencement of studies and lauded the Governor for being passionate about the state and education in general.
The President, the Minister said, commended the community for donating land for the siting of the polytechnic instead of demanding for compensation, which, according to him, has delayed take-off of Federal universities in some communities.
The Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Prof. Balama Joseph Obomanu thanked the federal government for the establishment of the institution in Akwa Ibom and the community for donating land for the school, disclosing that the institution has five faculties and 15 departments comprising Schools of Engineering, Environmental Studies, Applied Sciences, Business and Management, Information and Technology Communication.