By Sam Obinna Ibe Umuahia
Rector, Abia state Polytechnic Aba, Professor Friday Ezionye Eboh, has said that the management was planning to introduce Mass Communication as one of the courses of study in the institution.
He disclosed this in Aba when members of Abia state chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) paid him a courtesy visit in his offi ce.
Rector said to set up Mass Communication department was capital intensive, but the management would be relying on a proposal sent to Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for the 2017/2018 intervention, assuring that once approved, the course would soon come on stream.
Eboh also intimated journalists on challenges he met on ground when assumed duty nine months ago, and what he has done, so far, to bring back the school to its past glory.
“When I came in here, the institution was like a grave yard, three unions were on strike as a result of non-payment of salaries of many months, but we took the challenges head-on and cleared some arrears and now sanity has been restored “, he said.
He further disclosed on what he had done to instill discipline in the polytechnic, stressing that “no lecturer victimises students for not buying textbooks or handouts, but indecent dressing, exam malpractice, cultism are not tolerated” . Eboh revealed that students pay their school fees on-line, register and check their results on line as a way of blocking all hitherto leakages.
In her vote of thanks, the Registrar, Mrs. Comfort Nwabughiogu, thanked the NUJ leadership for the visit and expressed optimism that despite intractable odds, the management had been able to weather the storm. Earlier, the state Chairman of Abia NUJ, Comrade John Emejor, had lauded the rector for the good work he and his management were doing, while urging them to keep the fl ag fl ying high.
