‘Kwarapoly to print students’ certificate abroad’

In this interview with some selected reporters, the Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Alhaji Mas'ud Elelu, at the weekend spoke on his achievements and the controversy regarding suspected cultists’ clash which was allegedly traced to the institution. PILOT EDUCATION was there. Excerpt.

What are the measures put in place by the institution to curb the menace of cultism?

When we came in we heard about what happened in the past and we put some things in place and that is why we have not had any major incident on our campus. First, we opened up students. I think virtually, all students have my phone number and that of other principal officers so that they can give us information. Secondly, we made use of students themselves. We identified some students' organisations and drew them closer and they have been useful to us. We gave them some facilities and we are even planning to buy them motorcycles. This is to motivate them because they give us information. Thirdly, we make use of security agents, the police, SSS, Civil Defence and so on. At any point in time, we have 182 security personnel even the vigilantes. Everyday we have 182 security personnel on campus minus the students. These 182 are monitoring, working and see how to provide us information. For every special occasion, we bring more from outside and we are paying them. We are doing this because our campus is very porous. No government can afford to do that.

There was report that certain number of students were killed on your campus by cultists, how will you react to this?

The first thing I will say is that there was nothing like that. If there had been something of such magnitude it would have disrupted all our activities. The report said the incident happened last week. But during that week we had a lot of activities. And students had even finished their examinations and we asked them to go home. These activities would have been disrupted coupled with the fact that I as a person; engaged the principal officers and we were all on campus. During the week, I was summoned to the Government House for the meeting of head of institutions, I left for the meeting and went back to meet the principal officers in school and we continued our work. For us to hear that kind of story, it makes us sad. But we will not relent to ensure that incidences like this don't happen on our campus. It is difficult but we are praying it will not happen.

You were summoned by the Kwara State House of Assembly over the issue, what really transpired at the assembly?

It was very fruitful. I'm so happy. I was able to give them all the facts and they were surprised. I challenged them to visit the polytechnic and see what is happening there. They have promised they will visit us. The questions they asked, I was satisfied. They were also satisfied by the answers I gave to them. But we don’t know when they are going to write their report and other next things. They asked about security measures we will put in place. They asked about ID card and the carrying capacity. How many students are on our campus, hostels, fencing of the school, how porous and I tried to give them the responses. We even gave them some papers and so on. It's very satisfying. I hope people will be coming like that and assist us to grow, ask questions and give us suggestions as they did.

How true was the statement credited to Kwara Police Command that the suspected cultists confessed to be students of Kwara Polytechnic?

Thank you very much. I will react to this by saying police should have come to verify whether they are our students or not. When we met with members of the State House of Assembly, we gave them names of those who were killed in the town. None of them is from Kwarapoly. If they say the students are from Kwara Polytechnic, let them come and ask us about it. The mistake many people are making which is happening in many institutions is that many who have graduated 10 or 5 years will still claim they are from Kwara Polytechnic. It's happening everywhere. People attach those names at times to get out of the hook of the police. People claimed what they are not. In Nigeria of today, people can claim anything. What ought to be done is for the police to come for verification. I gave them the list of nine students who were suspended recently. So, if in any case someone is claiming to be from that institution come with information and verify. If students are arrested outside the campus, is it the responsibility of the Rector? Yes, you have arrested them, if you bring them we have to verify whether they are our students or not. If truly he is our student, he has to be suspended until he finishes the court case. Why do you attribute it to Kwara Polytechnic when you have not even verified. EFCC did it recently, they sent some names to us and asked us to verify whether they have passed through Kwara Polytechnic and we gave them the answers. Some even asked us from abroad and I pass it to the Registrar to check it. You arrest them and they said they are from Kwarapoly and you believe it? That's my stand on that.

How is the institution planning to tackle the issue of porous environment?

Honestly, I don't know. I raised it at the Kwara State House of Assembly and they promised to take it up with the government. Of course any government that will do the fencing now, it goes into billions. The government doesn't have the funds. The funds are no longer coming as it used to be. But, we are trying. When you block some place, they create another route and we are surrounded by big villages. The only thing now is for our people to be effective within.

There is allegation that some lecturers are involved in cultism serving as backbone for students, how true is this?

That's certainly false not Kwara Polytechnic of today. I have information at my disposal. Like I said, we made use of students to give us information; they would have given me.

What have been your major achievements so far?

We have gotten more support and loyalty from the staff. Today, over 300 members of staff have gone for one seminar and conference or the other since I came in. Again, we have more than 50 either in or outside the country in pursuit of their Masters' Degree or other programmes. The record had shown that before I got here, only one person went out of the country for seminar. In the last two years, staff get their salaries at when due. They get it by 25th of every month. Also, we don't have any outstanding promotion. We are only waiting for 2015 promotion exercise now. In terms of infrastructure, today, we have about 23 projects attracted to the polytechnic from different places, including TETFUND. The third one, which is students' welfare, for the first time in the last three year, we have made our students become more responsible. The fund that students pay, we made them pay together with their school fees. When collected, we will give it to the Students Union Government (SUG) and usually charge them to do something for the institution. I'm happy that since 2010, SUG has been able to do some things. Today, we have Polytechnic Anthem. We developed it two years ago.

One other thing is introduction of conference marking so that no single individual determines the fate of any student. The marking takes place centrally between 9 and 3pm. Students are happy about it because they get what they deserve. In the last five years, we have not had any confrontation with our SUG. We give them their money fully and we direct them on what to do.

Now, our certificate is going to be printed abroad. It will have many features that will be difficult for you to fake. This is going to start at the beginning of next session. It is part of students' welfare.

Certainly, we have challenges in terms of population because too many people want to be admitted because of certain things we have put in place. So, admission becomes difficult. Over 50,000 applied last year. This year, over 35,000 students have applied for post-UTME as at yesterday. Why is this coming up? It is because we have built the confidence. That is a big challenge. How do we admit within our carrying capacity? It is a big challenge. Then, funding is a big challenge to us and also, accreditation. As at when we assumed duty, 24 courses were in place. Today, we have 54 courses being run at Kwara State Polytechnic and they are all accredited.

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