Why we visited Amaechi-Rector

The Rector of the newly-established Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas in Bonny Island, the headquarters of Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, Prof. Elijah Tamuno Iyagba, has stated that the principal officers of the institution decided to visit the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to inform him that all hands are on deck, and that they are ready to get to work.

He stated that the polytechnic, in spite of being a federal institution, is located in Rivers State, stressing that Amaechi must be formally informed of their arrival and to familiarise themselves with him.

Iyagba gave the assurance when he led other principal officers of the polytechnic on a courtesy call on Amaechi at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

He assured Amaechi of the commitment of the principal officers of the institution to achieve its goals.

He noted that citing of the polytechnic in the oil-rich coastal Bonny would afford Niger Deltans more opportunity of gathering maximum knowledge in oil and gas activities.

The rector also recalled that the idea for the polytechnic was first mooted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and recently approved by President Goodluck Jonathan, with a take-off grant of about N1billion.

Iyagba said: “Your Excellency, as you may be aware, it has been a long road. This started 14 years ago. It was to be a National Technical Institute by the Rivers State government and six years later, the Federal Government, under President Obasanjo, asked the PTDF to take over the construction of the institution at the time, as a way of providing opportunities for Niger Delta youths. Later on, the present Federal Government upgraded the status to a polytechnic and finally, just a few months ago, we were appointed as the pioneer principal officers to kick-start the institution.

“Yes, it is a federal institution, but it is in Rivers State and we felt that we must come and formally pay you a courtesy call.”

Amaechi, in his response, lauded the principal officers for the visit and hoped that the objectives of the establishment of the polytechnic would be realised.

He said: “Let me welcome you to Port Harcourt. Most of you, I guess, must come from this part of Nigeria and I wish you all the best. I hope that you achieve the objectives. God bless you. Thank you very much”.

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