By MORRISON HAYBLE

AUCHI – A total of 3,748 Higher National Diploma, (HND) and 4, 987 National Diploma, (ND) 2014 graduands of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo state formally received their certificates and prizes weekend at a colourful ceremony which climaxed the institution’s 50th anniversary of its foundation.
Also at the ceremony was the conferment of Honorary Fellowship of the Polytechnic on two distinguished Nigerians: the President of the Senate, Senator (Dr) David Mark who was represented by Senator Odion Ugbesia and the President, Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), Barr Augustine Alegeh.
Addressing the gathering, Chairman, Governing Council of the Polytechnic, Professor Gabriel Yomere appealed to the Federal government to consider allocation of special grants to the institution to meet replacement of all obsolete instructional materials and equipment in the system.
Yomere observed that some of the Polytechnic’s facilities and instructional materials at the age of 50 had become obsolete while spares to keep them running were difficult to procure and at huge cost if available.
Prof Yomere also raised alarm over the abysmal performance in the secondary school certificate examination adding that the Polytechnic was concerned about the development because it was an end user of the products of the secondary school system.
While also urging government to strengthen the inspectorate division of the various ministries of education for effective monitoring as well as ensure regular retraining of teachers, he emphasized his appeal to parents and guardians to take active interest in supervision of academic and leisure activities of their children.
Also addressing the convocation, Rector of the Poytechnic, Dr Mrs Philipa Idogho while congratulating the graduands, enjoined them to remain good ambassadors of the institution wherevere they were.
“Those who graduated before you held afloat the worthy banner of this school. You can do no less” the Rector reminded the graduands.
Dr Mrs Idogho disclosed that the Polytechnic currently has 37 doctorate degree and 402 masters degree holders in its staff complement, describing the development as considerable improvement as against only four doctorate degree holders as at 2007.
She recalled that staff of the institution had successfully carried out research in various areas as a result of improved training and new orientation for academic work which according to her include: development and construction of a prototype biogas facility, construction of a prototype solar refrigerator and construction of a furnace.