Address by the acting Rector, Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi on the occasion of the 2023/2024 matriculation Ceremony

It is with great pleasure and gratitude to God that I welcome you all to this year’s matriculation exercise. It marks the end of admissions into Plateau State Polytechnic Barkin Ladi and the formal welcoming of the newly admitted students into the various programmes of the Institution. It is heartwarming that our invited guests, parents, friends and well-wishers have created time to honor this invitation. Your presence does not just only add glamour to the event but justifies its significance in the search for knowledge to better our society.

Although, the institution has witnessed academic set-backs within the last few years, Management and the Academic Board have strategically fine-tuned the Academic calendar to address the gaps. On behalf of the Management, staff, student of the Polytechnic I appreciate His Excellency Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, the Executive Governor of Plateau State who has demonstrated commitment and desire to revamp education, particularly in Plateau State Polytechnic, by releasing funds for the accreditation exercise that was successfully conducted in the institution in March this year. I therefore wish to congratulate the matriculating students on their enrolment in to this great Citadel of learning.

May I also remind our new students that it is a great privilege for you to be among the few candidates that were admitted, judging from the numerous applications we received from all over the country. You should consider this admission as an honor and an opportunity for you to acquire knowledge and skills for self-development.

While this matriculation exercise marks the climax of admission this session, it also signifies the beginning of your noble strides towards intellectual fulfillment. The Polytechnic has a vision to pursue a mission to train and produce competent and professional personnel with technical and entrepreneurial skills, knowledge and high moral values that would help to drive the technological, social and economic advancement and development of Nigeria. The Polytechnic will continue to explore diverse ways of enhancing the production of local technology to meet the technical manpower needs of the country and the mandate of training the manpower that will meet the demands of organizations and industries.

Our new strive is to open a new page and to restore the fading glory of this institution. Already strategic steps are being taken to add value to the Polytechnic and in no distant future, the results will justify the new approach.

The management is aware of the enormous expectations to deliver the dividends of leadership in the areas of quality assurance, security of life, welfare of staff and Students. We have been able to make some far reaching achievements within the period we came on board. These include.

The accreditation of programmes of the Institution Securing government intervention to complete ongoing construction of road network and landscaping of Jos Campus.
Securing Hi-Impact and other TET-fund Intervention for robust development of the Polytechnic.

Constructive engagements with critical security operative to improve the current security architecture in the institution.
Renovation of some critical infrastures in both campuses and Meetings with critical stakeholders within the institution and the community to ensure peace and the smooth running of the institution Management is also aware of the lingering case of land compensation to the host community which has stalled the perimeter fencing of the Institution and other perennial problems. These challenges are not insurmountable because of the strong commitment of ‘’The Time is now’’ administration of His Excellency Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang toward revamping education on the Plateau.

Let me call on our newly admitted students to note that Plateau State Polytechnic is an Institution that is anchored on academic and moral excellence and predicated on hard work and diligence. The Polytechnic frowns at examination malpractice, alcoholism, cultism, Insubordination and disobedience to constituted authority. Anyone found violating any of the virtues that the institution stands for, they shall be punished accordingly.

We expect that as bonafide students of the institution, you will create adequate time to study hard, knowing fully well that your parents, guardians and sponsors will eagerly wait in joyful expectation of your graduation.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, permit me to once more express the institution’s gratitude to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, for his immense support to Education, and to Plateau State Polytechnic in particular. I wish to also thank the entire Polytechnic Community for the tremendous support given to this Management during the accreditation exercise and hope it will continue, to bolster our relationship. I urge you to sustain the commitment so that we can succeed in changing the narratives and transform the institution to enviable heights. May I also remind the staff that these young students are entrusted in to our care and we should therefore treat them with care and love.

To our esteemed invited guest, your presence here today attests to your commitment to the education of your children and we promise to fulfill our own part of the responsibility, to the highest level.

I wish our guest, staff and students of the Polytechnic a pleasant celebration and safe departure to your various destination.
Thank you and God Bless.