The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-East Zone F, led by its Zonal Secretary, Miss Alfred Jacinta Chinedu, paid a courtesy visit to the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede (FedPolyNek), Dr. Mrs. Basilia Igbokwe, on Monday, February 10, 2025.
The visit was to congratulate the Rector on her appointment as the institution’s ninth substantive Rector and to mark her 100 days in office.
In a statement released by Noble Uchegbu Uchechukwu Zachariah, Special Assistance to the Rector on Media Matters, Miss Chinedu, during the visit, commended the Rector for her leadership, describing her administration as a “new dawn” for quality leadership in Nigeria’s polytechnic system.
She expressed confidence in the Rector’s ability to steer the institution towards progress and highlighted the importance of having a competent woman at the helm.
As part of the engagement, Chinedu presented several requests on behalf of students. She urged the Rector to provide a means of mobility for the Student Union Government (SUG) President to facilitate movement and enhance the credibility of the office.
She also sought the institution’s support for the upcoming NANS National Convention scheduled for February 23-28, 2025, in Abuja, as well as assistance in ensuring a free and fair Joint Campus Committee (JCC) Convention, set to be hosted by FedPolyNek.
She further appealed to the Rector to address the long-overdue disbursement of the SUG capitation fund, which she said would strengthen the student leadership’s position within NANS Zone F.
Additionally, she introduced a series of educational outreach projects targeting secondary schools and invited the Rector to support the initiative once formally launched.
Comrade Chukwuemeka Chikere, Chairman of the Imo NANS Stakeholders Forum, also appreciated the Rector for granting them an audience. He stated that FedPolyNek’s SUG remains the only recognized student leadership body through which NANS operates within the institution, warning against unauthorized student groups attempting to bypass the legitimate student government.
In her response, Dr. Igbokwe welcomed the NANS delegation and expressed her appreciation for their visit. However, she took the opportunity to address concerns about certain groups allegedly operating under the guise of NANS but were absent from the visit.
She revealed that some of these groups had persistently sent letters, made allegations, and issued threats without engaging directly with the institution’s management.
She clarified that FedPolyNek had not increased school fees since 2021 despite economic pressures and emphasized that any adjustments in charges were strictly for administrative and admission-related services. The former Bursar, alongside the Deputy Rector (Academics and Administration), was present to corroborate her statement.
Dr. Igbokwe also refuted claims by a NANS faction that students were not being mobilized for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. She criticized the group for failing to attend the meeting despite making accusations against the institution.
She further condemned their threats to block the Naze No.1 Junction as a means of media propaganda, labeling their grievances as baseless, especially considering recent renovations, including hostels upgraded with internet facilities.
The Rector reaffirmed her commitment to maintaining an open-door policy for student engagement but distanced herself from any factional disputes within NANS.
She assured that any further meetings with the association would be held with the recognized NANS Zone F leadership to ensure clarity on representation.
On the requests made by the Zonal Secretary, Dr. Igbokwe assured that the institution’s management would review them and provide feedback in due course.
Speaking during the visit, the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Paul Saint Christopher, reiterated that no student group, including NANS, could operate within the FedPolyNek community without liaising with the Student Affairs Division.
He commended the SUG President and his executive team for their dedication to maintaining a peaceful academic environment.
