Dr Agbabiaka Adegoke, Rector Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Bayelsa has said that the institution is one of the best equipped institutions in Nigeria, when it comes to strength of materials and human resources.

Adegoke stated this at the weekend, during the 2nd International Multi-Disciplinary Conference, 2024, held in the conference hall of the Federal Polytechnic Ekowe Liaison Office, Opolo Yenagoa.

The theme is: Exploring Local Discoveries in Science, Technology and Vocational Research: A Panacea for Industrial Development and Economic Growth in Nigeria.

The Rector said that the conference is the second in the series and that it’s an academic events with enoumous potentials and that they are open to partnerships, adding that they have procured a lot of equipments in Micro Biology, Engineering, Geometric amongst others.

According to him, the institution has a lot of human resources that it is the only institution that has all the strength of materials.

He said that the Polytechbic has designed impactful programmes and that their certificate is widely accepted within Africa.

He explained that the institution has been granted approvals to go into manufacturing of some items.

“We have purchased about 300 computers for our examination in our Ekowe Campus. And we equally have facility that will help the indigenous people of Ekowe community.

“A lot of things are going on there and we have constant power supply in all our offices and hostels.

“Our Petroleum Engineering department has been accredited, most of our programmes have been fully accredited,” he said.

On his part, Dr Franklin Agada, Chairman Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, said as the academia, they must develop themselves in all areas and disciplines.

He commented all those that graced the occasion, the Bayelsa government, the federal government amongst other dignitaries that attended the conference.

According to him, there is a compelling need to train themselves to be the change they aspire and to be focused on the betterment of the society.

He called for support from the Bayelsa government, to uplift the institution for the betterment of the students of the institution.

The ASUP Chairman said that research has played a crucial role in the lives of Nigerians and can be as important in economic growth of Nigeria.

In his address, the Speaker Bayelsa House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, commended ASUP for the initiative of the conference.

Represented by Ebiere Jones, former Commissioner for Mineral Resources and Commissioner nominee, said the problem is that their is no relationship between the industries and higher institutions and that their is no linkage between both.

“We want to see when higher institutions will develop something that will justify the money being spent funding them,” Jones said.

He urged the institutions to come out with research products that can generate power as Nigerians are being faced with power problems.