Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
…Constructs three Storey Building Complex to Peace Polytechnic
By Joseph Umoh
Technical education in Nigeria has been underrated, relegated to the background by many including some scholars, members of the public as well as employers of labour both public and private. But in his scholarly piece, an Engineer par excellence, a builder of no mean repute, Engr. (Dr.) Abasiono Okon views it in a different perspective and described technical education as the only way out of Nigeria backwardness.
Speaking during matriculation ceremony of Peace Institute of Management and Technology, Abak in a lecture christened, Technical Education: A Panacea For Sustainable Development, the chairman, governing council of the institution, Engr. Abasiono Okon said that technical education should be a priority by the Nigerian government as it provides the needed skills to solve problems plaguing Nigeria, “neglect of technical education is an obstacle to national development, not everyone that needs a university education. In Nigeria, degrees in technical education are regarded as inferior to regular academic degrees, but in advanced nations, those with technical degrees are highly regarded individuals with years of field work experience in tandem with those with academic degrees. In fact, the worth of every worker depends on the person’s skills and knowledge and not on the stack of academic degrees one has. Nigeria must learn to blend theory and practice in its education because theories alone cannot serve any useful purpose”.
Dr. Abasiono Okon who is also the CEO of Abaringo Nig. Ltd condemned in strong terms, the disparity between the degrees obtain in polytechnic and that of the university. He calls on the relevant government agencies and the public to address the situation as Nigeria cannot develop and compete favourably in the comity of nations if technical skills are not given a major priority in its schemes of things, “the age long disparity between the polytechnic and University education must be addressed as a matter of urgency. The problem of employment, which has given birth to youth restiveness, terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, ritual killings to mention but a few, will be greatly abated if government is serious with development of Technical Education. Sustainable Technical Education is a major tool for pursuing the vision 20:20 agenda”.
The governing council chairman of Peace Institute of Management and Technology announced that his construction firm, AbanngoNig. LTD has concluded plans to move machine and other equipment to site since survey of the environment has been completed by his technical team. He noted that in no distant time, the three Storey complex that is meant to house the HND program will be completed and put to use.
Speaking to Century Newsfront shortly after the event, Engr. Okon expressed his delight over the success of the Matriculation Ceremony called on the students to take their studies seriously and to avoid cultism and every association with it, “I call on the students to take their studies serious because despite the little beginning, if they focus on their studies, research and regular attendance to lectures, they will be problem solvers in the society because with potentials, you would be identified even without much credentials”. On the construction of the HND building, Engr. Okon added, “aside the fact that I like good things, I needed to identify with this institution through the construction of the three Storey building, given my position as the chairman of the governing council of the institution as well as contributing my quota to ensure the progress of the institution.
About 80 students in both ND and HND programs in 2 major faculties of Management and Social Sciences as well as Applied Sciences and Engineering as approved by National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and licensed by Federal Ministry of Education were formerly admitted to the Institution.
Present at the event were the Board of Trustees Chairman, Apostle (Prince) Efefiong Udosen; the Rector, Dr. Peace Udosen; Deputy Registrar, Princess Emek; Acting Dean, Student Affairs, Mr. Essien S. M and other management staffers.
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