The Acting Provost of the
Rivers State College of Arts and Science (RIVCAS), Dr Sam Kalagbor, has stated that those who are opposed to upgrading the institution to a polytechnic base their opposition on mere sentiment.
Dr Kalagbor, who spoke to The Tide in an exclusive interview shortly after the opening of a three- day corporate fasting and prayer session for the institution, said such people may not have been informed of benefits accruable from the upgrading.
According to him, Rivers State is already lagging behind, even as it has been over due to have more than one polytechnic.
“For those who are expressing sentiments relative to the Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic Bori, such sentiments are baseless.
“This is in the sense that if you look at the Directory of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), 2014, you will realize that there are states that have more than two polytechnics, owned and funded by the state government.
“For instance, Ogun State has five state government- owned and funded polytechnics, Oyo State has three, Zamfara has two, Akwa Ibom has two and Delta State has three in each of the  senatorial districts,” he said.
The Acting Provost stated that while upgrading RIVCAS to a polytechnic is in accordance with the state’s Governor’s promise to improve education among other sectors of the state, it is in line with creating job opportunities in the state.
“In Rivers State there is need for an increased manpower development. So, it will  also help in acecelerating the quality and quantity of manpower in the state for an overall growth and development of the state. It will subsequently increase employment opportunities for Rivers indigenes and boost the local economy,” he explained.
He therefore, used the opportunity to commend the state Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike, for not only having the foresight, but also taking the initiative to do the needful in the present circumstance, noting that the entire state  stands to benefit from it.
Also speaking, chairman, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics of RIVCAS, Comrade Victor Ossai, also expressed joy over what he called “overdue” decision by the Governor.
“We want to thank the state governor. We know that God is using him to give the college a befitting identity because before now, we have been suffering from identity crisis,” he said.
It will be recalled that RIVCAS has been operating as a Polytechnic for years, and the quest for it to be upgraded to a Polytechnics had  been on.