Yenagoa- Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, on Monday inaugurated the newly constituted Governing Council of the state-owned Polytechnic, Aleibiri, under the chairmanship of a former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mike Zuokumor.
He also inaugurated the new board of the Bayelsa State Environmental Sanitation Authority chaired by a former caretaker committee chairman of the Ekeremor Local Government Area, Tolu Amatu.
Speaking at the events held at the Government House, Yenagoa, the governor tasked the council and the sanitation authority chairmen to bring their wealth of experience to bear in the repositioning of the state’s economic and education sectors.
Dickson in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fidelis Soriwei, described the establishment of the polytechnic as apt and timely as it would provide the much needed high and middle level manpower and technical skills required by the oil and gas industry.
He expressed delight that the polytechnic and several of its courses have been approved by the regulatory agencies.
He also disclosed that the institution would move to its permanent site with its pioneer set of students in less than two months.
According to him, the several years of neglect in the education sector necessitated the bold step of establishing the different educational institutions in the state including University of Africa, Medical University, Driving Institute, Institute of Tourism and Hospitality and the Institute of Midwifery to build middle level and skilled manpower.
“The polytechnic has been approved by all the regulatory agencies and I am delighted that they have several courses already approved for commencement of academic work. I am also delighted that they have their first set of students already. They will move to their permanent site in the next one or two months.
“Two years ago, we established the polytechnic but at that time there was no road. Early part of this year, I directed them to admit students. Our intention has never been to take the poly out of Aleibiri,”Dickson said.
The governor also assured on prompt release of funds for the construction and remodelling of the institution, which according to him would be carried out through direct labour under the supervision of the new governing council.
Ye explained that members of the governing council and sanitation authority were carefully and painstakingly selected having been found worthy to serve the state.
He said: “Manufacturers Association of Nigeria is represented, professional bodies whose disciplines are taught in the polytechnic are represented. The community project liaison officer will help to mobilise the community to support this project.
“You should begin discussions with various institutions and polytechnics that have the capacity to support us with the skills that we need”.
The governor also tasked the DIG Zuokumor-led Governing Council to work towards organising the Polytechnic’s first ever matriculation ceremony in December this year.
He said there were never plans to relocate the institution as government opted to locate institution in the community without any pressure from any political leaders contrary to speculations.
He called on the people of the area to support the government and the members of the governing council to succeed.
As part of his charge to the new Environmental Sanitation Authority boss, Dickson said environmental challenges would be daunting when the current flood disaster recedes and called on him to be up to the task of making Bayelsa cleaner.
He urged Amatu to surpass is predecessor, Ayalla Enogha, who he noted, served meritoriously while in office.
“Continue the great work that the erstwhile chairman, Chief Ayalla Enogha, and his team did. Chief Ayalla did well, supported by the contractors. I expect you to keep up that standard and improve on it”.
He also urged the former council boss to collaborate with the eight local council chairmen on the need for the people to understand and adhere to sanitation laws, while also working hard to increase its revenue drive through levies as it delivers essential services to the people of the state.
In their separate remarks, DIG. Mike Zuokumor and Tolu Amatu, thanked the governor for appointing them to contribute their quota to the development of the state, promising to work with members and other key stakeholders to deliver on their mandates.
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