By Eniola Allen

The Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Eduma Enobong Essien, has reaffirmed her administration’s unflinching commitment to academic excellence, integrity, and global competitiveness, declaring that the institution is on a steady trajectory toward becoming one of Nigeria’s foremost centres of technological innovation and skills-based education.

Speaking as a guest on Close-Up Show on Redemption FM 101.5, Abak, Essien outlined the remarkable transformation currently sweeping through the institution under her leadership. She emphasized that Federal Polytechnic, Ukana is no longer producing graduates with certificates alone but professionals armed with both knowledge and practical competence.

“Our students will graduate with a dual advantage: academic certification and practical skills,” she stated. “Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, does not train for certificates alone; we train for competence, for purpose, and for global relevance.”

The Rector disclosed that the Polytechnic has received full approval from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to issue globally recognised certifications to artisans who enroll and complete any of the institution’s skills acquisition programmes, a landmark achievement that further positions the institution as a hub of vocational and entrepreneurial training.

Essien also revealed that she successfully secured the accreditation of 19 academic programmes within her first three months in office, an extraordinary feat she attributed to teamwork and the solid groundwork laid by her predecessor.

“The swift accreditation of 19 programmes within three months of my tenure was no magic,” she explained. “It was the result of collective effort, the staff’s dedication and the sterling foundation laid by my predecessor, whose exemplary leadership paved the way for our current successes,”she said.

According to her, the institution was “ripe for transformation,” requiring only a spark of purposeful leadership to unlock its full potential, a spark her administration has ignited through discipline, strategic planning, and staff motivation.

Reiterating her passion for human capacity development, the Rector commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its consistent sponsorship of staff training programmes, which she described as the bedrock of sustainable institutional excellence.