Immediate Past Registrar of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON) and former National Secretary of the Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN), Prince Jay Oghifo has said that there is nothing wrong in appointing academics with higher qualifications as Rectors of Polytechnics or College of Technology in the country.
He said that it is even more suitable to appoint Professors as Rectors of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology that run degree courses as it obtains in some institutions such as Kaduna Polytechnic and Yaba College of Technology.
Prince Oghifo who spoke to newsmen in Lagos was reacting to alleged controversy, which was generated by the recent screening of Rectorship applicants for Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Yaba College of Technology Chapter had protested the inclusion of the names of three professors on the list of those that were invited for interview by the College Governing Board for the post of Rector of the institution.
ASUP maintained that the act establishing the institution made provision for appointment of only Chief Lecturers within the college as Rector.
Prince Oghifo, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Fellows of the Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN), insists that any Polytechnic or College of Technology that offers degree courses should be headed by someone with a qualification higher than a master’s degree.
He recalled that the present Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had in its early days, designated Kaduna Polytechnic and Yaba College of
Technology as City Universities, pointing out that the two institutions academic board and senate should be headed by Professors. According to him, the newly appointed Rector of Kaduna Polytechnic is Professor Idris M. Bugaje, a Professor of Chemical Engineering.
Prince Oghifo then called on the Federal Government to demand for the comprehensive report of the entire screening process before the final appointment would be made for the position of Rector at the Yaba College of Technology.
Meanwhile the Public Relations Officer of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Charles Oni has also reiterated that professors have always applied for the post whenever it was advertised and published, and that the inclusion of three professors amongst the shortlisted candidates for interview was in order. He pointed out that professors such as “late Professor Ayodele Awojobi had helped in making Yabatech what it is today”.
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