Dzukogi’s silent revolution at Federal Polytechnic Bida

“Whatever the mind of a man can conceive and believe it can achieve it” – Napoleon Hills.

Dr Abubakar Abdul Dzukogi, an achiever, an administrator par excellence, a goal getter assumed office as the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger state with ots of hope and expectation on May 22, 2015. Since the establishment of the institution 43 years ago, Dzukogi’s midas touch and remarkable giant strides have continued to be a reference point due to his remarkable and unprecedented managerial skills he has brought to bear in steering the affairs of the Federal Polytechnic Bida to greater heights.

Dzukogi’s revolution in academic excellence and other administrative reforms has been geared towards sound academic excellence which has witnessed the rise in ranking of standard of technical education in the institution among the comity of polytechnics in Nigeria.

His focused and visionary leadership is hinged on a well-thought 7-point agenda as well as prudent management of resources for the whole development of the institution. This dynamic and unique leader has put in place structures and buildings that would add value to the institution as well as promote serene academic environment for the common good of the entire academic community. These include: Two lecture theatres, School of Business Administration Management complex and the Office of Technological Management (OTM) through the TETfund Intervention. It is also worthy of note that through his leadership qualities, projects like the Entrepreneurship Centre, the Physical Planning Office, School Lecture Theatre, one storey Academic Staff Building, Office Technology Management Department Building, the Electrical Engineering Building, rehabilitation of the Chemical Engineering Complex and hostels have been added.

Students are not left out in appreciating the positive impact the rector has brought to the school. Odinaka Raphael, ND II Civil Engineering Department, who has been impressed with the visionary leadership of Dr Dzukogi, said, “The rector is an outstanding personality, because since his assumption of office, the institution has witnessed tremendous changes”. As one who is not to be carried or blown away by achievements in his quest to take the Federal Polytechnic Bida to next and desired level through infrastructure, content and human capital, the rector in one of his well-publicised interviews said, ”We have gone round to see the state of our laboratories, workshops, studios and we are embarking on massive repairs and installation of equipment which have not been installed over the years since the creation of the institution. Under my watch, this administration (his tenure) will strive to provide adequate security, water and other basic amenities on campus using available resources”.

Through Dzukogi’s uncommon leadership and the instrumentality of internally generated revenue, some projects which include supply of furniture and provision of desks and chairs for lecture halls in Abuja and Lagos area offices of the institution, as well as the installation of laboratory equipment in various departments were put in place in the institution.
His revolution and wind of change can also be seen and felt in various monumental and other strides such as the establishment of a Micro Finance Bank in the polytechnic community, establishment of campus radio, acquisition of new classroom furniture and refurbishing of old ones. Others are supply of equipment to OTM’s ICT Laboratory with 100 computer system, renovation of hostel common rooms with benches and television sets supplied. Connection of 60 KVA generator to staff offices to serve as alternative power supply, re-installation of water supply to Mechanical Engineering Complex, reconstruction of the Polytechnic main gates, supply and installation of equipment in Quantity Surveying, Building Technology, Mass Communication, Agricultural Engineering, Science Laboratory Technology and other departments, supply of 5000 GP Tanks in the hostels, internet facilities for both staff and students, expansion of local direct network capacity from 160 system to 450 systems.

There are also the grading and beautification of the polytechnic environment, full computerisation of both Bursary and Registry Departments, conversion of the old PCL Lecture Hall to a laboratory with necessary equipment for Science Laboratory Technology (SLT) Department, the repairs and installation of laboratory equipment in the Science Laboratory Technology Department such as Gas Chromatography, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Atomic Absorption Spectro Photometer (ASS) and vacuum freezer dryer and the provision of Laptops to all HODs and Exams Officers including other units such as Registry, Bursary and Audit and full computerization of both Bursary and Registry Departments.

In his mission and vision statement in May 2015 Dzukogi said, “Given that discipline is fundamental to any successful endeavor, my administration will vigorously pursue the entrenchment of a new culture of discipline and sense of responsibility amongst all staff and students and stakeholders”. Under his leadership, academic integrity is legendary as the “Bida standard” is a standard the institution is known for. And as a way of achieving greater success in economic diversification, agriculture is given greater priority as a way of keying into the Federal Government Agricultural Policy.

The introduction of degree programmes in affiliation with Federal University of Technology Minna and Kwara State University (KWASU) Malete Ilorin, re-engineering of examination process at all levels, expansion and accreditation of new academic programmes, installation of equipment in different laboratories to aid learning as well as introduction of internal quality assurance systems to monitor content delivery by academic staff are some of the unprecedented feats put in place by Dr. Abubakar Dzukogi-led administration.

On Human Capital Development, the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa of the popular Oputa Panel was quoted to have said “Our human resources are our greatest asset, and unless we use them to advantage our nation will be the loser”. It is in this context that Dr Abubakar Dzukogi has pledged to continuously develop the human capital component of the institution by organizing in-house workshops, seminars and academic presentations, facilitation of higher academic courses for staff and promotion of computer literacy and e-compliance amongst staff and students.

Under him, the policy on staff training and development have seen 143 and 72 academic staff pursued their Masters and Phd Degrees respectively at home and abroad from 2015 to date through TETFUND sponsorship. Added to this figure includes 73 and 43 staff members currently pursuing Msc and Phd programmes respectively making a total of 217.

Staff members are also enjoying TETFUND sponsorship to both local and international conference. About 170 staff members have been sponsored to international conferences while 120 staff members have attended local conferences making a total of 227 beneficiaries. In the aspect of welfare, Dzukogi gives priority attention to staff and students welfare. As the rector, he personally goes to the student hostels to get first-hand information. Water is available in the hostels, laboratories and the classrooms 24 hours.


Another landmark of the rector’s tenure is in the area of research and manuscript development through the setting up Committee on Manuscript Development and as well the creation of the Directorate of Research and Publication.

Since his coming on board in 2015 as Rector, he has begun to access TETfund’s Special Intervention Fund for fabrication of equipment. So far, 45 staff have benefitted from the intervention either as principal fabricators or co-fabricatiors and have fabricated 28 machines inspected by TETFUND and ratified by TETFUND which include modified Keke NAPEP, Edu Dry power generator, Small Scale Moringa Leaves Procession Plant, 5KVA Solar Power System. Others include binding wire production plant, vertical spindle wood moulding plant and nail production plant, green block production machine, mini-hand rolling machine, concrete mixing machine, tomatoes paste mini processing plant, African locust beans de-pulping machine, Animal feeds milling plant, Gas fire melting furnace, palm kernel cracker, small scale bar soap production unit, Solar-powered mobile cold room, Hydraulic log splitter, multipurpose thresher and horizontal shaff impact crusher.

Looking at Dr Dzukogi’s uncommon leadership traits and achievements since 2015, one could say without any iota of doubt he has brought a new lease of life in academic excellence and serene environment for the common good of Nigerian students. This achiever of a man deserves accolades and commendation by all for his commitment to nation building and academic excellence. No wonder, he is a good team player. No wonder his tenure has achieved lofty heights and has brought a lot of good tidings to the entire Federal Polytechnic community in Bida and beyond.

It won’t be out of point to conclude with a quote from Will Rogers who said, “If you want to be successful, it is just this simple. Know what you are doing, love what you are doing and believe in what you are doing”.

Dr, do not relent and keep keeping on.

Ibrahim writes from Abuja via [email protected]