ANSPOLY: Anambra community jubilates as Soludo visits Poly

Residents of Mgbakwu community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Tuesday, July 23, 2024, erupted into a jubilant mood when the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo made an official visit to Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu (ANSPOLY).

The visit was part of Governor Soludo’s tour of inspection needed to accredit the institution for Higher National Diploma (HND) programs.

With enthusiasm, Mgbakwu natives and dwellers gathered on both sides of the road in front of the Mgbakwu Nkwo Market, along Mgbakwe-Ngwo Road, in anticipation of the governor.

These include traders, pupils, students, teachers, Okada riders, passersby and some members of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

Mgbakwu natives and dwellers gather to welcome Governor Chukwuma Soludo

After some moments, the appearance of the governor’s motorcade was greeted with cheers, razzmatazz from the Mgbakwu people, who lined the streets to catch a glimpse of their leader.

As Governor Soludo stepped out of his vehicle to walk the short distance to the institution, the fanfare reached a fever pitch.

Enthusiastic supporters waved placards and chanted his name, while the loud, piercing sound of the traditional Igbo signal instrument, Mkponana, echoed through the air, announcing his arrival to nearby towns and drawing even more attention to the momentous occasion.

Several of the natives who were passionate and curious about the governor’s visit did not mind following him into the Anambra Polytechnic.

Soludo’s speech at ANSPOLY

The governor, who was warmly welcomed by the Management, staff and students of ANSPOLY, as well as community organizations, spoke on the purpose of his visit:

“Today, I have not come to tell you oh we will build this. But I came to see things for myself.

“I have a committee that is working now. They were here two weeks ago or so for an inspection tour to see how it is.

“What you have, what the issues are and to make presentations to us at the executive council.

“We will get to work. This institution in a few years’ time will not be the same again”, the governor said.

Governor Soludo further spoke on how to keep the school braced for accreditation.

He stressed the need for the school to cultivate a defined and positive direction as regards the academic courses offered in the school.

Quality of teachers

He also emphasised on the quality of staff and the commitment of the students to excellence in knowledge, skills and innovation.

According to him: “An institution is as good as the quality of teachers in the school and the quality of teaching.

“There could be a highly qualitative teacher who doesn’t teach, or teaches, but doesn’t teach well.

“I don’t forget the one that taught me mathematics in the university, my first year in the university.

“The guy just came back from the US, speaking US Phonetics.

“He was focused just on the black board.

“Just looking at the board and talking to himself there as if he was whispering to himself there.

“And that was a mighty theatre that would stretch three times this hall.

“So those of us except those of us who would rush first to be at the front toll and you would still be stretching your ears to hear the conversation he was having with the blackboard.

“Very brilliant teacher, highly skilled, but the quality of the teaching was the problem.

“And no wonder when the exam came, at least two third of the students failed.

“So the school is defined by the quality of teachers and the quality of teaching that go on in the place.

“For the students themselves, the purpose will also be defined.”

“Why are you in a polytechnic?”

Soludo further asked the students of ANSPOLY what their motivation for education really is: certificate, knowledge or skill.

He said: “Why are you in a polytechnic? What have you come here to take?

“Are you here to take the certificate or to take knowledge and skill?

“If you are here for knowledge, I like to see what innovation you are making.

“I like to see what you are adding to knowledge.

“A polytechnic should be a frontier of technological innovation. That’s what we expect them to be doing.

“The IIT of India should be the model. Indian Institute of Technology. It is all about the purpose.

“You must define your destination. If you don’t define your destination, any road will take you there.

“We need to carve out a niche. This is what I must caution you about this process.

“Many polytechnics that started in Nigeria lost focus and direction. Polytechnics are supposed to be specialised places.”

Polytechnics as specialised places

“They must be about something, concentrated and distinguished in it.

“Why I have come is to have this kind of engagement so as to stir your own imagination.

“You two can come up with ideas because we need to think together, sharing information, sharing resources.

“But if you want to do it all by yourself, that is not the new world where we are in.

“We are getting now to a new world where we could leverage through technology, we could leverage learning such that somebody at MIT or even IIT India could be giving lectures to students here in Mgbakwu.

“If we pull in the necessary technology, I could be traveling to may be London and deliver a lecture and you would be watching me and you ask your questions and we have an interactive section.

“We must learn from the global data bank of skill and innovation for this institution to thrive and be able to compete in the world.

“We have collective duty, lecturers, students, community, the private sector and yes, the government will do its own.

“Government is one of the stakeholders in this project. The project is to make Anambra State Polytechnic Mgbakwu to be a frontier global champion.

“It is a long way from where we are. But let’s first of all decide on the destination.

“So the message I leave with you is that all of us must work together. Not just help us to get accreditation”.

Soludo charges the polytechnic against theft

Also, Governor Soludo learned of the rampant theft of school resources and urged members of the Mgbakwu community to take the institution as their own in order to secure it.

The governor stated: “I understand the fences are falling and people are encroaching on their land. Igwe, PG and Ndi Mgbakwu, you have work to do…

“The community has to take ownership in helping to secure this property because I know you value it.

“This particular institution, when nurtured to the maturity, the level that it should be will be a major institution that defines Mgbakwu community.

“That is the institution that people from all the world will then come down to Anambra, travelling all the way to Mgbakwu to go to the polytechnic (ANSPOLY).

“We must as a community realize how central it is. And the community must rise up to protect it, preserve it and promote it…

“The minimum you can do is to secure the place. The community can have cooperative arrangement with the polytechnic to keep the place clean.

“They must show a sign of ownership. It is in their overall interest and well being.

“The benefits of having an institution in your community can never be quantified.

“That is why the community must take it with two hands and legs and do everything to make it a place that people would want to come”.

Road infrastructure

Additionally, the governor expressed commitment to delivering road infrastructure to the people of Mgbakwu and all the towns in Awka North, noting that all the roads still under construction or renovation would be completed.

So far, governor Soludo has completed the Awgba-Amamsea-Ugbene-Ugbenu-Ebenebe road project, which were hitherto a torn in the flesh of the natives, especially farmers, stifling their businesses.

The governor vowed to expand Awka towns with the ongoing connection of roads, including the construction of UNIZIK Temp site-Okpuno-Isuaniocha road.

Testimonies from Mgbakwu Residents

In a bid to canvass opinions on Governor Soludo’s visit, Oguagbaka Tochukwu Raphael, Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reporter, browsed around the venue.

The fist respondent was Engr. Cajetan Mezi, Dean of the School of Engineering at the polytechnic.

Engr. Mezi said: “The governor’s presence has lifted a lot of burden from the students, lecturers, the management, everybody.

“The school earlier on has been requesting the governor to help us achieve the accreditation”.

Another respondent, Vivian Mmesoma, a student of Computer Science and Technology, National Diploma2, revealed her thought on the basis of the governor’s visit:

“The little I know… They say they want to change the environment of the school to know if we can upgrade.

“You know our school only has ND and we want to accredit it to HND. At least we can have some population in our school”.

“We have been sending some messages to him to come”

When asked how she felt, Mmesoma stated: “I am so happy and excited because I have been expecting my governor because it has been long.

“We have been sending some messages to him to come. Today. Me seeing my governor, the happiness is so much in me”.

Mmesoma also advised young people who sought a qualitative institution to enroll in her school.

“You guys should just start coming. At least this time now, we will upgrade and will have more population, courses and departments.

“So you guys should attend my school. We teach very well and impart some skills. You will love it”.

Further, Adelabu Pelumi Blessing, a corp member serving at the institution had this to say:

“The governor came to visit the school and it has been a long-awaited visit.

“He came to address the issue, everything generally.

“But basically for the accreditation of HND to the school so that it will attract more students to the school”.

Soludo Women’s Movement coordinator joins the frenzy

Finally, Hon. Beatrice Ifunnaya, state coordinator Soludo Women’s Movement and Director of C.I Landers Global Initiative (NGO based on Youth employment in Anambra), poured into a rapturous tone about the governor’s visit:

“I don’t know where to start. Being happy is an understatement.

“It is not easy to have the executive governor of Anambra state under our watch step.

“I am very grateful and delighted. That man is indeed different from other governors I have ever seen.

“He is a life changer. He is opportunity giver, especially what he did for the youth of Anambra state.

“The One-Youth-Two-Skill programe he initiated. My dear I am telling you it is going viral.

“It helped a lot of people to revive their lives. So that man is exceptional and I am happy I am among the people that welcomed him here at Anambra state polytechnic”.

On how the community can enhance the progress of the school, Hon. Beatrice said: “One is security. Yes.

“The community will make sure that there is adequate security in the school, at least to secure the property and lives of the students.

“Secondly, anything the rector of the school is doing, he she should go along with the community’s PG because the PG is the number one in the community.

“So they should liaise together to have a success d perfect arrangement”.

ANSPOLY played host to the Anambra State Executive Council’s special committee on education on July 10, 2024.

The committee, led by the Secretary to the Governor, Hon. Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, was constituted by Governor Soludo as part of his mandate to elevate the status of state-owned institutions, ensuring they rank among the nation’s most competitive.

The visit was received by the Acting Rector, Dr. (Mrs.) Njideke Chiekezie, and the management team.

Concise History of ANSPOLY

The transformation of the Anambra State College of Agriculture, Mgbakwu, into the Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu, was a strategic initiative undertaken by Governor Willie Obiano in January 2017.

This upgrade was designed to bolster human capacity development and respond to the dynamic demands of the era.

Prior to this, the college had been operating with full accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) since 2007, under the auspices of the Anambra State Law No. 2007 ANHA/LAW/2008/07, which took effect on June 14, 2007.

The upgrade was facilitated by a legislative bill passed by the Anambra State House of Assembly and assented to by the Governor, culminating in the enactment of the Anambra State Polytechnic Law.

Profile of Mgbakwu Community

Mgbakwu is a community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Mgbakwu is situated in the northern part of Anambra State, approximately 20 kilometers north of Awka, the state capital.

The community has a population of around 10,000 people, according to the 2006 census.

The primary language spoken in Mgbakwu is Igbo, the dominant language in Anambra State.

The community is predominantly agrarian, with residents engaging in farming, fishing, and trading. Mgbakwu has a rich cultural heritage, with traditional festivals like the “Igba Oji” (yam festival) and “Ekpe” (masquerade festival).

The community is home to ANSPOLY, a tertiary institution established in 2017.
Mgbakwu has basic infrastructure, including roads, schools, hospitals, and markets.

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