Mr Chinedu Onuh, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo has called on Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to urgently intervene in the misunderstanding between the institution and its host community over land.
Onuh made the appeal in Enugu on Friday, when he led members of the council on a courtesy visit to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the Government House.
He said: ”Initially, the community gave us close to 350 hectares of land for the permanent site.
”A few days later, they reduced it and we are now asking for the land to be restored because it is owned by the village.”
He therefore appealed for government’s intervention, saying that the polytechnic needed more land for “the purpose of expansion as the institution is growing in strength.”
Onuh said that the institution was a College of Education before it was upgraded, which was why it had limited space for farming as a polytechnic.
“Right now, our host community no longer allow us to do agricultural activities,” he said.
The governing council chairman thanked the state government for giving maximum support to the institution.
”Let me announce to you that all the programmes of the polytechnic have been accredited by the National Body of Polytechnics of Education.
Also, we have not recorded any single case of cultism in the institution.
”I will not end this address without appreciating the state government and the people of Ezeagu community for their hospitality, even in the midst of this issues,” Onuh said.
Deputy Gov. Cecilia Ezeilo, who represented Ugwuanyi during the visit, said that the state government placed high premium on education in the state.
Ezeilo said: “We have taken steps that resulted in getting all hands to be on deck towards the goal of achieving quality, inclusive, functional and relevant education for our people.
”Besides, government has enacted and updated various laws that have re-engineered and strengthened key institutions in the sector and refocused them and the entire sector for it’s essential development orientation.”
“Enugu government has also undertaken major infrastructure development and expansion works in it’s higher educational institutions and your polytechnic is a major beneficiary.”
She expressed the hope that the institution would work hard to realise the dream of its founding fathers.
”It is my sincere hope that all members of your team would work assiduously to achieve and sustain the dream by making the institution one of the top ranking institutions among it’s Nigerian, African and world peers.” Ezeilo said.
She assured the delegation of the state government’s continued support to the institution to enable it to excel.
