ANSPOLY Pioneer Rector, Mefoh, Hands Over to Deputy

… calls for improved govt attention to institution

Dr. Nneka C. Mefoh, the Rector of Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu (ANSPOLY), has handed over the mantle of leadership of the State-owned Polytechnic to the Institution’s Deputy Rector, Dr. Njideka Chiekezie.

The handover officially marks the end of her reign as the Pioneer Rector of the institution after successfully and meritriously completing her first term of office.

The remarkable event took place on Tuesday, 5th July, 2023 at the Multipurpose Hall saw the Deputy Rector, Dr. Njideka Chiekezie receiving the Baton pending the Appointment of A Substantive Rector.

It should be recalled that Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu came into existence in 2017 following the upgrade of the defunct Anambra State College of Agriculture, Mgbakwu to a Polytechnic Status by the immediate past Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Dr. Willie Maduaburochukwu Obiano and was established by the Anambra State Polytechnic Mgbakwu Law 2017 passed by the Anambra State House of Assembly and assented to by His Excellency.

Dr. Mefoh who was the Ag. Provost of the College of Agriculture was retained as the Pioneer Ag. Rector of ANSPOLY which Position was made substantive in March 2018 thus making her the First and Pioneer Rector of the Polytechnic.

Earlier in her brief remarks, Mefoh thanked God for leading her through the years of Service and for the successes recorded in the Institution under her Watch, stating that even though the Law allows her to go for a second term, she is happy with her Administration’s Achievements despite many challenges and so will not be going for a second term.

In her words, “Our spirits should be high that despite all odds, God sustained me to complete the 4-year term and in His infinite mercies allowed the three months extension for His purposes. It is glorious indeed”.

She expressed her gratitude to Past Governors of the State, His Excellencies, Mr. Peter Obi and Chief Dr. Willie Maduaburochukwu Obiano and to the Present Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludu for finding her worthy to serve in the capacity of the Rector and for their great interest in ANSPOLY, while appreciating All the past and present Members of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Council of the State and all ANSPOLY Internal and External Publics.

Going further, she thanked the NBTE, JAMB and TETFund for giving ANSPOLY the needed national and international recognitions and appreciates all her past and present Management Team, Staff and Students and the Governing Council.

She prays for the New Management of ANSPOLY to achieve greater success and heights and for Mr. Governor to take the Only State-owned Polytechnic to an enviable heights and position and take greater care of the welfare and Affairs of the Staff and Students.

Receiving the Baton, Dr. Chiekezie who doubles as the ANSPOLY TETFund Desk Officer, thanked the ANSPOLY Visitor, Governing Council, Principal Functionaries and the Outgoing Rector, Dr Mefoh for the opportunity to serve and promised to continue with the Rector’s Legacies.

She prayed God to continue to bless the Rector and calls for support and encouragement from the Council, Management Team, Staff and Students of the Polytechnic and the Internal and External Publics to achieve success.

In his speech, the Ag. Chairman, ANSPOLY Governing Council, Prof. Ifedioramma Eugene-Mary Nwana, on behalf of the Council and the Polytechnic thanked Dr. Mrs. Mefoh for her selfless and sacrificial services in ANSPOLY and to the State and prayed for fruitful future for her; he charged the New Leader to keep the light on and to do more in all round development of the Institution and her teeming population, and prayed everyone to put in his best in the overall good and development of the Polytechnic.

The Registrar of the Polytechnic and Secretary of Council, Barr Samuel U. Nnana, PhD, in his brief remarks highlighted the great achievements of the outgoing Rector and commended her for her selfless services even as he congratulates the New Head of Institution and prays for more success stories.

It will be worthy to note that Dr. Mrs. Nneka C. Mefoh recorded many achievements in the Institution both as College of Agriculture and as Polytechnic under her Watch:

As College of Agriculture
Got NBTE Accreditation for Four Departments Viz Agricultural Technology Department, Animal Health and Production Technology Department, Home and Rural Economics and Nutrition and Dietetics, JAMB Enlistment of the College, Many Infrastructure and Human Development under Governor Peter Obi led Administration…

As Polytechnic: through her doggedness, great efforts and commitment under Governor Chief Dr Willie Maduaburochukwu Obiano led Administration,
Got the Anambra State Polytechnic Mgbakwu Law 2017; got National recognition of the Polytechnic through NBTE Resource Visitation and Accreditation of both the Institution and the Programmes (Department) Viz Four Schools – School of Agriculture and Related Disciplines, School of Engineering Technology, School of Management Sciences and School of Science and Technology and twelve Departments – Agricultural Technology Department, Animal Health and Production Technology Department, Home and Rural Economics Department, Fisheries Technology Department, Electrical Electronics Engineering Technology Department, Computer Engineering Technology Department, Accountancy Department, Business Administration and Management Department, Cooperative Economics and Management Department, Computer Science Technology, Nutrition and Dietetics Department and Science Laboratory Technology Department at National Diploma Level (ND);

She has already initiated and started the move for the NBTE Resource Visitation and Accreditation of Higher National Diploma (HND) Programmes and introduction of New ND Programmes under the Mission and Vision of the current Administration of Mr Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo; JAMB Enlistment, TETFund Enlistment of which six (two Overseas and four Local Training) ANSPOLY Staff had already benefitted from the Academic Staff Development Training and others on queue, and two Staff have already attended TETFund Sponsored Overseas workshop and training the trainer workshop, and ANSPOLY TETFund Infrastructure Development Funding under her Watch, Modern Processing Centers, Agricultural Training Center, attracted State Government’s Construction of the road leading to the Polytechnic from Isuaniocha axis and Internal Road Network, Buildings by the State Government, Digital Library and ICT/Computer Laboratory, increased Staff and Students numbers, active and digitally vibrant Public Relations Office and Polytechnic Website, online visibility of ANSPOLY, better relationship with NIPR and the Media Practitioners and Journalists, and with the Internal and External Publics, other Linkages, and many more.

The Hand over event was witnessed by the Ag. Chairman of Council, Members of ANSPOLY Governing Council and the ANSPOLY Principal Officers, and communicated formally to the Assembly of the ANSPOLY Principal Functionaries by Ag. Chairman of Council, Prof. Ifedioramma Eugene-Mary Nwana, while the Pioneer Public Relations Officer of ANSPOLY, Chukwuanu Sunday Okagbue, KSJI, Anipr, FIPMD, who is also a Lecturer in the Department of Animal Health and Production Technology anchored the Brief Hand over ceremony as the Master Compares and Protocol Officer.

Highlights of the event included the Presentation of the Handover Brief to the Deputy Rector by the Outgoing Rector and Group Photograph.

Report and Photo credit: Chukwuanu Sunday Okagbue, KSJI, Anipr, FIPMD, Pioneer PRO,/Lecturer, Animal Health and Production Technology Department, Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu (ANSPOLY)