Uma Ukpai Polytechnic, Asaga-Ohafia marks maiden matriculation

By FROM ONWUKWE EZERU
The founder/president Uma Ukpai Polytechnic, Asaga-Ohafia, Abia State has said that his dream to establish a tertiary institution in Abia was to build the first aeronautical engineering university where aircraft will be assembled and serviced but regretted the activities of enemies said to have betrayed him.

Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai who wept at the Polytechnic auditorium during the maiden matriculation ceremony of the school said he had engaged six professors from India and assembled three crafts to be used in the school, “but enemies of progress stopped me from continuing with that project”.

He said, “the dream started in 1973. I was the first missioner to Ahmadu Bello University and University of Nigeria Nsukka in 1972 and 1973 respectively. I saw the beauty of schools and began to dream about building a school in Asaga”.

Uma Ukpai who expressed optimism that his dream is not yet over as some day air craft will be assembled in Nigeria said he is looking for tomorrow thinkers in Nigeria.

He lamented that Africans have been snubbed and looked down by the White man and see no good thing coming out of Africa and called on Africans to brace up with the challenge and do the continent proud.

“I am looking for tomorrow thinkers in Nigeria. I am looking for students who will wipe out the labels given to us by the White man. I am looking for students who will send satellite to the orbit. I am tired of men who give excuses, who believes in impossibilities.

Uma Ukpai who however reminded the students that education without Christ is an accident waiting to happen, promised to encourage the best five science students with five (5) million naira.

In his welcome address, the Rector Elder Alwell Onukaogu called on the Federal Government to review its policy on TETFUND.

The Rector decried a situation where TETFUND makes no provision for private institutions is unfair and should be reversed.

He suggested that all approved private tertiary institutions should be given some financial assistance to enable such institutions to be able to hire and retain quality staff, adding, “When this is done, private schools may then review their fees and reduce the burden on the parents of their students”.

He said, “I do know that those days when missions and individuals partnered with government in school ownership at all levels, once a school met all the requirements prescribed by government, governments on their part gave such schools what was called grants in aid. With this, private schools were able to hire and retain quality staff and these inpatronize were able to compete effectively with government schools.

“Today private institutions that invest heavily in high level human capacity development are hardly appreciated. What this means is that governments are discriminating against certain citizens who attend private institutions”.

He reminded the matriculants (95 of them, drawn from Departments of Computer Science Technology; Computer Engineering Technology; Accountancy; Electronic/Electrical Engineering Technology, Statistics; Departments of Continuing Education- Business Administration & Management), that the founder of the school, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai is a respectable Christian evangelist and as such they will be carefully remoulded so that when they are finally injected into the economy, they will make the difference and in turn be grateful to the institution.

“We will continue to handle you with utmost care and will ensure that when you would be graduating, you will stand out not only in learning but also in character”, he pointed out.

While commending Rev. Uma Ukpai for subsiding the fees and accommodation of students (as each student pays N100,000 and this includes accommodation), the Rector said, “If every community would have an Uma Ukpai, no community would ever be in darkness. I therefore hope that the Asaga community, the Ohafia people; the Abia people and indeed all Nigerians will appreciate our founder and patronize this college”.

The State Governors of Abia, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom; Ohafia LGA Chairman Engr. John Njoku, the academic, clerics, business class, traditional rulers etc graced the occasion.