Former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Dr Chris Akomas has advised the management of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba to ensure that convocation ceremony is regularly held for graduating students of the institution.
This is even as Abia State government has offered automatic employment for eleven best graduating students of the Polytechnic.
The former Deputy Governor who made the observations during the eleven years combined convocation ceremony of the Polytechnic in Aba , where he was bestowed with Fellowship of Excellence award by the school, said it was unfortunate that previous administrations in the Polytechnic could not hold convocation for students for eleven years even when the institution was graduating students regularly.
While describing convocation as the most joyful period in the life of a graduating student which should not be denied him or her, he advised the school authority to solve every problem that was responsible for the delayed exercise even as he praised the new management of the Poly for braving the odds to organize the ceremony and appreciated the school for honouring him.
Akomas who is a Federal Commissioner representing Abia State in Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC Abuja, announced the institution of Chris Akomas annual Prize for Best graduating students at Abia Poly which is worth N200,000 while overall best student in the school, Joseph Chidera who scored 3.88 GP received N300,000 from him.
He noted that the Prizes were aimed at encouraging the spirits of students to do more, adding that his Chris Akomas foundation would partner with the Polytechnic in her transformational drive even as he disclosed that the Fellowship Award bestowed on him would remain indelible in his mind forever and announced the the take off of Chris Akomas foundation in Abia Poly with the sum of N2m.
Earlier in his address, Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu announced autonomic employment for all the best graduating students of the Polytechnic in the last eleven years even as Ikpeazu who was represented by Commissioner for Post-Basic education, Isreal Chijioke Mark, said the automatic employment was in recognition and rewards for the students’ giant strides.
The new Rector of the Polytechnic, Associate Professor Hagler Okorie disclosed that he was uncomfortable with backlog of convocation and uncollected certificates when he assumed office, which prompted the event.
