In a bid to contribute positively to the country’s manpower development, Sure Foundation Polytechnic has assured to address some technological deficiencies facing the country.
The institution, modeled after Devry Institute of Technology, Calgary, Canada, is located at Ikot Akai, Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking at the 8th Matriculation on Friday at the Polytechnic Assembly hall, Elder (Dr) Idongesit Udom, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, said that the institution is committed to its vision as an outstanding tertiary institution in engineering, sciences, management and technology with the flexibility to grow and adapt offspring to emerging workforce and societal needs.
Dr Udom, who spoke through a BOT member, Engr Nkekere Udom, noted with happiness that the school facilities will address the technology deficiency in the country.
Engr Udom who is also a senior Staffer of Shell Petroleum Development Company, urged the students to do their best so that they can add value to society when they graduate.
Also read
- Best 2023 UTME Candidate Gets Anambra Govt’s scholarship
- 2023 intervention line: TETFUND Gives Nigerian Polytechnic N130m
- NBTE Accredits Trinity Polytechnic programmes in Akwa Ibom
He charged them to position their minds to be useful and warned them to eschew drugs so that their future would be brighter better and fairer.
Udom explained that in the last 10 years, he has provided scholarships for more than 80 indigent students and announced scholarships for four students of the polytechnic.
On his part, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Rev Silas Silas, while administering the oath of allegiance to the students, charged them to take their studies seriously as the institution has what it takes to technological innovations to the next level.
Earlier in his homily, Rev Cletus Eduo reminded the new students that they are in the College to add value to themselves and society and that they should not allow the golden opportunity provided by the institution to slip from their hands.
He also charged them to avoid all forms of distractions but work hard to achieve what God has destined for them.
In a solidarity message, an education-loving Politician in the area, Elder Amos Udom commended the authorities of Sure Foundation Polytechnic, Ukanafun for creating a conducive atmosphere for the development of needed manpower for societal transformation.
Udom saluted the Chairman, Board of Trustees and Visitor to the institution, Elder (Dr) Idongesit Udom for providing practical education that prepares individuals for professional career to enable them to thrive in a changing and challenging world.
He congratulated the students on their matriculation and advised them to embrace discipline and hard work for them to succeed.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of APTECH Computer Education, Mr Inibehe Otoho said as a leading information technology worldwide, the company has been producing software engineers for the global market.
Describing perseverance as the hallmark of success, The Lagos-based Ukanafun ICT guru urged students to study hard to achieve positive results.
He assured me that APTECH Computers will offer the best-graduating student a 100 per cent scholarship for a two-year programme in Software Engineering.
Some of the newly admitted students while interacting with our reporter expressed appreciation to their parents and wards for investing in their education and promised to abide by rules and regulations to achieve results.
Mr. Inibehe Otoho (middle), Elder Amos Udom (left) at the matriculation ceremony
Saturday Akpan, who matriculated in the Management Science Department, thanked the Polytechnic for offering them admission and pledged to study hard for academic success in order to come to serve the society.
The 8th matriculation ceremony was anchored on the topic: Investment in polytechnic education in the contemporary Society.
More than 400 students admitted into Schools of Engineering Technology, Sciences, Statistics and Management Science matriculated.
The Polytechnic commenced in 2006 with the foundation laying by Rev. D. T. Udousung of Qua Iboe Church, followed in 2009 by the school of Computer Science and Library was built.
From 2010 – 2013, the foundation of a six-in-one-storey building for Girls dormitory was laid in 2014.
In 2014, the male dormitory was built.
Between 2014 and 2015, the School of Management was built.
In 2015, all the Laboratory Equipment, Computers, Office Equipment were purchased and other buildings, completed.
In July 2016, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) granted Sure Foundation Polytechnic a licence to operate as a private polytechnic in Nigeria.
By this, Sure Foundation Polytechnic became third approved private Polytechnic after Heritage Polytechnic and Uyo City Polytechnic in Akwa Ibom State.
Founder’s Dreams: Sure Foundation Polytechnic
Sure Foundation Polytechnic is a product of three dreams. The first dream came from my late father Elder Demas Udom Udoneke who dreamt in 1964 that I would be a mechanical engineer to work in the oil industry after observing Shell Oil Company which came to Odoro Ikot village in Ukanafun L.G.A for oil drilling.
My late father in 1971 sent me to study mechanical engineering at the then popular Community Technical College, Ikot Akata in Mkpat Enin L.G.A of Akwa Ibom State. While there, my father’s vision was confirmed in 1972, while I was still dreaming on a regular basis about helicopter taking me to offshore platforms in the Atlantic Ocean to work as a technologist.
I was privileged to enjoy the then South Eastern State Scholarship from 1972–1975. After my secondary technical education, I gained employment to teach in the same college by the then Cross River State Teaching Service Commission, Calabar from September 1975 to September 1977.
In 1977, I was admitted to study Mechanical Engineering in the then College of Technology, Calabar, but later abandoned the college to study Electronics Engineering Technology in Devry University of Technology, Dallas, Texas USA through Federal Government Scholarship programme. This University was established by three Telecommunication Engineers from Bell & Howell Company which become the foundation of my inspiration for Sure Foundation Polytechnic.
The second dream I had on returning to Nigeria in 1980, was on how to reciprocate the scholarships gestures I enjoyed from my secondary school to tertiary levels. Then, I declared to myself that I would award as many scholarships as possible to any Nigerian.
The third dream was in1996. After a technical training in Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Calgary, Canada, and another one year Oil & Gas/NGL/LNG training in PT Arun Gas Plant in Indonesia, I dreamt to build an Oil and Gas Polytechnic.
In 1980, I was recommended for employment by Mobil Oil Corporation Office in Dallas, Texas, USA to be engaged in Mobil Oil Corporation (Nigeria). After I had worked with Nigerian Television Authority NTA Channel 9, Calabar and Cross River Teaching service for a period of five months, I resumed duty at Mobil Producing Nigeria, Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State on January 5, 1981.
At this point, the dream of my late father that I would be an Engineer and work in an Oil industry became a reality. In the year 2009, I was adjudged as the only Nigerian who had awarded full scholarships to over 80 Nigerian students studying in Nigerian universities and Polytechnics through personal earnings. It was in recognition of these philanthropic gestures that the International Union of Students in Czech Republic awarded me the Best Professional of the year 2009.
