Students must acquire skills before graduating, new Board chair, Ikoh tells Nekede poly mgt

Former Minister of State for Science, and the newly inaugurated Chairman, Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Chief Henry Ikoh, has directed that every student of the institution must acquire skills before graduation.

Chief Ikoh who gave the directive during his maiden board meeting with the Management of the institution , said skills acquisition remained the only way Nigeria could easily exit from her economic challenges.

He frowned at the practice where tertiary institutions produced graduates who only had academic/paper qualifications without skills for self sustenance.

According to him, Nigeria needs to create middle class with polytechnic graduates.

The former Minister who spoke with Wawa News Global , explained that time had come for Nigeria to transit from consumption country to production country if she hope to survive the current economic downturn.

He said:”I told them that we must move from consumption country to production country. Every student must acquire skills before graduation. We must create middle class with polytechnic graduates.”

Chief Ikoh who was also a former Commissioner for Industry in Abia State, promised to reposition the Federal Polytechnic Nekede to meet its core mandate.

He charged management and staff of the institution to be committed to the duty and to key into the renewed hope agenda of President Ahmd Tinubu which is aimed at repositioning every sector of the economy.

The former Minister who also solicited the support and cooperation of the staff and management of the institution, promised that under his watch as the Chairman of its Governing Board rapid transformation would be witnessed.

He equally stressed on the need for due process, transparency and accountability, declaring that the Board has zero tolerance for any type of sharp practices.

Chief Ikoh further said that under his watch, the welfare of students and staff would be a priority.