Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic ranks 2nd best Polytechnic in Nigeria ... Stakeholders commend Rector, AKSG, for pioneering academic excellence, entrepreneurial renaissance

By Our Reporter

arely two months after Akwa Ibom State was placed on the global map following the Guinness World Record by Hilda Bassey, the state has recorded yet another significant milestone with Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, emerging as the second best Polytechnic in Nigeria. This is according to a 2023 annual ranking of top tertiary institutions in Nigeria, Africa, and the world released by Webometrics.

It could be recalled that Akwapoly was Nigeria's 4th best Polytechnic from 2011 - 2012, but fell to the 99th position from 2014 - 2018. When Dr Moses Umobong was appointed Rector by the State Government, it rose from 99th to 18th position between 2019-2021 before its current leap to the 2nd position in July 2023.

As Webometrics announced the results of its 2023 global tertiary institutions' ratings, Akwapoly dislodged the Polytechnic Ibadan, Federal Polytechnic Offa, and other previously famous Polytechnics in the country to clinch the second position. Six federal polytechnics also made the top 10 positions in Nigeria.

44 years old Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State, came first. Akwapoly second, Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State came third, Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti state took the fourth position, while Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri, in Imo state came fifth.

Similarly, Lagos City Polytechnic took the sixth position, the seventh position went to Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Federal Polytechnic Ede secured the eighth position while the ninth and tenth position went to Federal Polytechnic Bida and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta respectively.

Akwapoly is the only State-owned Polytechnic to make it to the top ten ranking while Lagos City Polytechnic is the only privately owned polytechnic to make the list.

The Webometrics Ranking of world higher institutions is a ranking system based on a composite indicator that takes into account the number of lecturers with PhD and Masters as well as total number of NBTE accredited courses offered by the institutions, publications by academic Staff members, and the visibility and impact of these web publications according to the number of external in links (site citations) they received. The ranking is published by the Cybermetrics Lab, a research group of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) located in Madrid.

Reacting to the development, the Rector, Dr Moses Umobong, thanked God for the achievement, dedicating it to God, the Akwa Ibom State Government, Management, Staff and students of the Polytechnic. He noted with delight that the feat is a testimony of the hard work, determination, commitment and dedication of major stakeholders.

He specifically commended the Akwa Ibom State government for its untiring effort at ensuring the Polytechnic gets all the needed support to help create the enabling environment for learning and research to thrive.

Dr Umobong promised that more accolades awaits the institution owing to the entrepreneurial and business ideology of Governor Umo Eno's Arise Agenda for Akwa Ibom State, especially on entrepreneurial development, Small and Medium Enterprise, Skill Acquisition, enhanced technical capacity for self-empowerment and capacity building, which he noted are in consonance with the Polytechnic's core mandate of producing highly competitive middle-level manpower that can nurture ideas for sustainable development and promote creativity and scientific innovations which will aid regional, national, economic, industrial and technological development.

He stated that the Polytechnic remains committed to interpreting the vision and spirit of the Arise Agenda of the Pastor Umo Eno led administration so as to advance technological education and innovation, educate, train and develop a pool of middle-class entrepreneurs who will key into the ideology of the Arise Agenda by emulating the concept of starting small and growing big to become employers of labour.

According to Dr Umobong, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic will always remain a world class centre of excellence in technological education and innovation and remain committed to ensuring the fortunes of the institution continue to positively grow and maintain its place of pride as the destination of choice among Polytechnic's in Nigeria.

The Rector commended the State government for providing funds for the successful 2022 NBTE Accreditation exercise which led to the introduction of new courses such as ND Mechanical Engineering Technology, ND Mechatronics Engineering Technology, ND Welding & Fabrication Technology, HND Civil Engineering Technology, HND Electrical Electronics with options in Power and Machines, Instrumentation and Control and the commencement of National Innovative Diploma in Business and Informatics as well as Para-Legal Studies under the School of Enterprise Studies, noting that these were some innovations that contributed to propelling Akwapoly to clinch the second best position.

He announced that 15 programmes are currently due for re-accreditation and appealed to the state government to assist the Polytechnic meet up with the NBTE requirement so as to continue to sustain the present enviable academic standard the institution has achieved.

Reacting to the development, the Dean, School Evening/Part Time Programme, Dr Lionel Ukoka, said he was happy that in just three years in office as Rector, the Dr Umobong administration has recorded giant strides that has enhanced academic excellence. He submitted that the Polytechnic moving from the 99th position to 18th and now 2nd in just three years is commendable and appreciated the Rector and the Visitor to the Polytechnic, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno for the achievement.

Also speaking, the Dean School of Communication, Dr Daniel Evans Eshett, said the rating is a true reflection of the standard that the Rector, Dr Moses Umobong has brought about in the polytechnic.

"Recently, it is noticeable that among the 40 Federal Polytechnics, 49 State Polytechnics and 84 Private Polytechnics, our institution features prominently in NBTE, TetFund, Federal Ministry of Education and development partners activities. In the ongoing unbundling of Mass Communication in Polytechnics, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic is extensively involved. I congratulate the Rector on the achievement of the current rating and wish him more achievements in future years by the grace of God", he said.

On his part, Mr J. J. Etim Ekiko, Dean School of Business and Management, said with Governor Umo Eno on the saddle and his passion to run government from a business and entrepreneurial mindset, a new paradigm has come to stay that will make Akwapoly and Akwa Ibom State the toast and envy of many while the Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnic's. SSANIP, Akwapoly Chapter, Mr Emmanuel Ekpo, gave kudos to the Governor and the Umobong led management, and reiterated the determination of SSANIP to support the institution maintain its status of academic excellence.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Akwapoly Chapter, Comrade Eteyen Uko, expressed delight at the achievement recorded, stating that the feat is a testimony to the quality of academic Staff the Polytechnic has and commended both the Akwa Ibom State Government and Polytechnic Management for the unprecedented achievement.

He noted that since the appointment of Dr Moses Umobong as Rector, he has with a pace, tempo and dynamism that is unprecedented in the history of Akwapoly, strived to reposition the institution towards achieving the mandate, ideals and objectives for which it was established and reiterated the determination of ASUP to support the Rector in his quest to ensure the gains recorded are sustained.