In a bid to enhance the employability of its students, the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic (CEAPOLY) has increased the period allocated to the practical components of its Entrepreneurship Programmes.
The Rector, CEAPOLY, Dr Samuel .B. Kalagbor revealed this at the 31st Matriculation ceremony of the institution in PortHarcourt, recently.
Kalagbor, who noted that the Entrepreneurship Programme was compulsory for all students said the increase would further make the students more relevant to the increasing demands of the industry and society.
Kalagbor disclosed that in making provisions for accomodation of programmes by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE),  the institution’s management had strived to align students in various programmes with relevant professional bodies in Nigeria.
“To this end, the Department of Accounting has been granted professional accreditation by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). The Department of Banking and Finance has equally been granted professional accreditation by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN)”.
“For the first time in the history of the institution, the Polytechnic through the Department of Computer Science and in partnership with the Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria) inducted 37 Diploma students of the Polytechnic as Graduate Members of the Computer Professionals for the 2020/2021 session”, Kalagbor said.
While listing the benefits of the professional accreditation to include exemption from examinations in some courses and membership of the professional bodies, the Rector expressed management’s hopes to sustain the feat and progressively obtain professional accreditation of other Programmes in the Polytechnic.
Revealing that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFUND) had enlisted the Polytechnic as one of its beneficiary institutions in the country, Kalagbor said management was confident that the enlistment and appropriate release of funds by TETFUND would enhance the existing infrastructure of the institution.
According to him, management had complimented the efforts of the TETFUND on public power supply on campus by concluding arrangements to providing a 330KVA Generating Plant for the Polytechnic.
Kalagbor further commended the Rivers State Governor and Visitor to the Polytechnic, Chief Nyesom Wike for his unflinching support to the Polytechnic ranging from the change of nomenclature and status from college to Polytechnic, release of funds for the institutional accreditation, accreditation of 14 programmes both at the National Diploma (ND) and the Higher National Diploma (HND) levels, infrastructural development of the institution, among others.
“In his words”, I wish to specially express my profound gratitude to His Excellency for the simultaneous approval and release of funds for two major projects in the Polytechnic, the construction of a two -storey Governing Council Complex and construction of internal roads, drainages and street lights in the Polytechnic”.
Describing the feat as unprecedented in the history of the institution, he said whereas the construction of the Governing Council has reached advanced stage, the construction of internal roads, drainages and street lights have been completed. These projects have significantly addressed some of the infrastructural gap in the Polytechnic”.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu