The Oko community in Orumba North LGA has declared its full support for the administration of Dr. Chioma Irene Awuzie, Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko, while calling for the revival of the Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme Annual Lecture Series, in honour of the institution’s founding father and former Vice President of Nigeria.
The endorsement came during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Oko People’s Union (OPU) and other key stakeholders to the Rector at the Polytechnic’s main campus on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
Speaking during the visit, the National President of OPU, Nze Sunday Nwafor, lauded Dr. Awuzie for her inclusive leadership style and notable achievements within her first six months in office. He cited initiatives such as the recently conducted free medical outreach for the Oko community as evidence of a renewed spirit of collaboration and service.
"The Polytechnic is making significant progress under your leadership, and we are here to express our solidarity and appreciation," Nze Nwafor said. "We also urge the management to resuscitate the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Annual Lecture Series to preserve his enduring legacy of human capital development and peaceful coexistence between the Polytechnic and its host community."
The delegation, which included representatives from the Oko Council of Chiefs, OPU Women’s Wing, Umuada Oko, Oko Youths, and indigenous staff of the Polytechnic, also made several appeals to the institution’s management. These include increased student enrolment, support in accessing the recently introduced Federal Government Student Loan Scheme, re-accreditation of existing courses, and the introduction of new academic programmes.
In her response, Rector Dr. Chioma Awuzie expressed gratitude for the visit and the goodwill of the host community. She reaffirmed her commitment to fostering a harmonious relationship with Oko, assuring that the Polytechnic’s doors would remain open to community engagement and collaboration.
Dr. Awuzie welcomed the call for the revival of the annual lecture series, revealing that her administration has resolved to host it on a bi-annual basis. She also highlighted recent successes, including the approval of nine academic programmes submitted for accreditation by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). According to her, plans are underway to secure resource inspections for additional programmes such as Nursing Technology, Pharmaceutical Technology, and Legal Studies.
“The Polytechnic cannot thrive without the support of its host community,” Dr. Awuzie noted. “Respecting and partnering with Oko remains a top priority of this administration.”
Also present at the visit was Hon. Okonkwo Okom, a two-term member of the Polytechnic’s Governing Council, alongside several traditional rulers, youth leaders, and prominent stakeholders from the community.
The engagement marks a renewed chapter of cooperation between the institution and the people of Oko, in line with the founding vision of late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, whose legacy continues to shape the Polytechnic’s developmental trajectory.