“The golden fish,” they say, “has no hiding place.” This aptly captures the strides of Prof Ezionye Eboh in his less than two years reign as the Acting Rector of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.

Eboh’s achievements have continued to attract accolades from individuals and groups. One of the latest is the vote of confidence passed on him by the National Association of Nigerian Students, Abia State Chapter.

A vote of confidence is a strange concept in this part of the world. We are more familiar with “vote of no confidence”: an instrument which the ruled always deploy to oust their rulers or call to order erring public officers.

Eboh’s case is the reverse. Comrade Ikenna Balogu, who led the group on a courtesy visit to the rector, said that the group is comfortable with his management style, which has ensured a turnaround in the polytechnic and stability of the academic calendar of the institution.

He appealed to the rector to conduct a convocation which has eluded the institution for some time.

Responding, Eboh thanked the group for its solidarity and enjoined them to match their words with action, by ensuring that Gov Okezie Ikpeazu is reelected.

According to Eboh, the institution has recorded some achievements since he assumed office as the acting rector.

He enumerated the achievements to include reducing the salary profile of staff, plugging leakages in the polytechnic by streamlining the payment structure, among others. He assured the group of conducting a convocation before leaving office.

Indeed, Eboh has exceeded every expectation for the ailing institution, which was in distress before he assumed office as the rector of the institution. Also, for the rector to bring down to an appreciable level the soaring wage bill is no mean feat.

Eboh’s achievements are not restricted to cutting down the soaring wage bill of the institution, but his Midas touch has affected other areas which were critically affecting the institution.

The institution has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two organizations: the Association of Tailors and Fashion Designers (ATFAD) and Leather Products Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. The MoU is part of the institution’s numerous efforts to boost the business activities of Aba metropolis. His words: “It is our way of giving back to the city of Aba, as an institution that is socially responsible.”

The three-month programme targets small and medium manufacturers in the city and would ensure that every member of the associations in the city is acquainted with the basic skills of doing business. Also, the courses outlined in the MoU are Basic Mathematics, Basic Management Principles, Basic English and Basic Book-Keeping.

It will be worthy to note that the MoU coincides with a similar one the institution signed with Green Field, to provide Social Health Insurance Programme for students of the polytechnic at no extra cost, after enrollment.

From all ramifications the MoU is apt at this period Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, is on a steady march to fulfill the appellation “Japan of Africa”. By the Professor’s projection, God willing and other things being equal, the programme will train about 10,000 artisans in the next two years.

“If our plan works out, in the next two years, we will have trained about 10,000 artisans.”

It is indisputable that Abia Polytechnic has great contribution in the current stride of Aba to sustain its status as the SME-hub of the country. The institution is the biggest public institution in the city and has the mandate of providing manpower for the state’s drive towards technology.

The three months certificate programme is a transformation process for the artisans, upgrading them from local artisans to world-class entrepreneurs, who are empowered with certificates. To buttress this, Eboh noted: “We’ll also train them on how to separate self from business, especially in terms of their finances. “Of course, we will teach them the basics in cleanliness, rudimentary English, and self-confidence. We hope that this effort is in energy with a whole lot of other activities being undertaken by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration, and we have no doubt this will positively alter the business of Aba within the next couple of years.”

Besides, the polytechnic is diversifying its efforts. Such efforts would ensure the operation of a Mass Communication Department in the years ahead. This is cheering news because, when the department comes on stream, according to the chairman of the Abia State branch of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), John Emejor, it will help practising journalists in the state who are yearning to update their certificates in the profession.”

To block leakages in the revenue of the institution, every financial transaction in the institution is now made through the bank to avoid misappropriation, while admission and checking of results and other processes are now done online. This is to discourage time wastage. Also, efforts are now on top gear to rejig the internally-generated revenue process of the institution for improvement and to reduce the dependency of the institution on the state government.

It is apt that the internally-generated revenue process of the institution is rejigged, to ensure that the level of dependence of the institution on the state government is reduced.

•Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu, a public policy analyst, writes from Aba, via keshiafrica@gmail.com

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