Dr. Chioma Awuzie addressing her audiene
Thursday, May 29, 2025, was a day of projects commissioning at the Federal Polytechnic Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area, of Anambra State. It was a remarkable day when Dr. Chioma Irene Awuzie, marked her first 100 days in office, and appointment as the substantive Rector of the institution.
Dr. Awuzie was appointed the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko on February 11, 2025; and immediately she hit the road running.
She anchored her administration on the strategic pillars of transparency, equity, innovation, discipline and inclusivity.
In his address at the epoch making ceremony, the Director Polytechnic Education and Allied Institutions Department, Federal Ministry of Educatuon, Dr. Ejeh, A. U. represented by Deputy director at the ministry, Ango Jacob Umoru eulogized the tact and the passion of the Rector to raise Oko Federal Polytechnic to an enviable position within the comity of Polytechnics in Nigeria.
He said: “I commend the Rector, for being a prudent manager of resources and for working assiduously to take this polytechnic to enviable heights. I thank the Rector for maintaining industrial peace and harmony in this Institution. I was reliably informed that Management/labour relationship is now at an all unprecedented high
“This is quite commendable and I urge all the stakeholders to maintain it. May I reiterate that no meaningful development can be made in the midst of crises and industrial strife. It is always necessary to resolve labour matters through meaningful dialogue”.
Dr. Ejeh further commended the team spirit of the management, staff and students of the institution noting “I appreciate the Management of this institution for prudent and visionary leadership. I am particularly impressed by the zeal with which the polytechnic has embraced innovation and infrastructural renewal. It is hoped that these efforts will be sustained and further enhanced in the years ahead. To the students of Federal Polytechnic Oko, I want to charge you to keep re-inventing yourselves, challenge yourselves to become the best in your area. Learn with purpose, prepare yourselves to be agents of change and nation-builders. The future of this country rests in your hands and we are confident in your potential.
“To the staff and management, I encourage you to continue to discharge your duties with integrity, diligence and a deep sense of responsibility. You are shaping the minds and destinies of our future leaders.
“…I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all who played a role in bringing these projects to fruition. From the planners and contractors to the supervising authorities and internal management team. Your dedication has yielded visible and lasting results.”
Earlier in her speech captioned “From vision to Action: 100 days of impactful, innovation and institutional rebirth,” the visibly elated Rector generally called Madam Projects, elaborated on her eloquent quest to rejuvenate and reinvigorate what appeared to be a moribund federal Polytechnic.
She said “Our works speak to a deliberate and strategic approach to institutional renewal, academic excellence, staff motivation, student-centered governance, promotion of technical and vocational education and training and inclusivity.”
The Rector explained that the projects and innovations executed by. her administration were made possible vide internally generated revenue (IGR).
Dr. Chioma Awuzie further enumerated what she tagged sterling contributions recorded under each thematic pillar of the 12-point agenda of her administration which includes, Human Resources Development and Staff Welfare.
Her tenure according to her has been marked by remarkable strides in human resources development and staff welfare, “demonstrating our deep commitment to creating a motivated, productive and inclusive workforce in the Polytechnic.”
According to her, “Our interventions in this area includes: Timely and Transparent Promotion of Staff, adding that appraisal and promotion processes were treated with dispatch and promotion letters released to deserving staff in the Month of March.
She revealed that as part of her people-centered leadership and in pursuit of President Bola Tinubu’s renewed Hope Agenda, she keyed in and oversaw a transparent distribution of 50kg bags of federal government-subsidized rice at ₦40,000 per bag with all willing and eligible staff benefitting equitably.
Dr. Awuzie said the introduction of a novel initiative of enlisting indigent students of the Polytechnic into the Students Work-Study-Aid Programme has provided financial support to students in need.
According to her, “having laid a solid foundation in just 100 days, marked by passion, inclusiveness, and transformative result, it is time to journey forward with confidence.
“The next four years and eight months, under the 12-Pillar Agenda, shall be devoted to consolidation, expansion, modernization, and ultimately, transformation.”
Among the projects commissioned by the representative of the director polytechnic education and allied institutions, federal ministry of education, were a newly built and well- equipped Staff Sports Club and Guest House, Security Post 2, Expanded and Renovated Oko Polytechnic Press, and the reactivated Polytechnic Bakery an Confectionaries.
Others are Security post 3, Senator Barnabas Gemade Medical Centre, and Geological Technology Office all at the Ufuma campus of the polytechnic
Highlights of the event were goodwill messages from all affiliate unions in the institution who after the other attested to the positive and progressive and all inclusive leadership style of Rector Chioma Irene Awuzie.
The event was attended by members of the institution’s governing council, management/staff of the polytechnic, students, local government chairmen and representatives of the host community.
