Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, has concluded plans to establish revenue yielding ventures to boost funding and tackle problems affecting the institution.
Rector of the Institution, Prof. Martin Ifeanacho who stated this in an interview with newsmen in his office, disclosed that the Polytechnic is making efforts to plug all areas of waste in revenue generation and raise more funds through looking at critical departments in the oil and gas, setting up of a publishing house, a film studies and Theatre Arts department as well as explore potentials in fabricating machines for small scale industries and equipment that can help in domestic refuse collection and disposal.
He said, “Abia Polytechnic must to respond to the technological needs of Aba. This institution can have a state of the art factory in the area of fabrication, shoe making, bricklaying. We must fill the gap in providing middle level manpower for industries in Aba where we can also cash in to make Abia Poly the best in the country. Again, we are going to intensify efforts to benefit from donor agencies and government outfits like TETFUND, NEEDS.”
Reacting to the industrial action embarked upon by the workers’ union over nonpayment of salaries, the Rector lamented that the dwindling economic situation in the country can no longer accommodate the kind of funding required by the Polytechnic.
He stated that the Polytechnic has been struggling to match available resources with the payment of arrears of salaries and promotion and retirement benefits, and disclosed that the institution has paid two months salaries out of the six owed workers.
The Rector expressed gratitude to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, members of the governing council and the various workers union for their support to the growth of the institution.
