By Noble Uchegbu Uchechukwu Zachariah
The Rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Dr. (Mrs.) Basilia Nkemdilim Igbokwe, has been honoured with an Award of Excellence as the Best in Human Resource and Development for 2025 by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Owerri Area Office, in recognition of her outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to staff development.
The prestigious award was presented during a courtesy visit by an ITF delegation to the Polytechnic at the Centre of Excellence Building, underscoring the strong institutional partnership between Federal Polytechnic Nekede and the Industrial Training Fund.
Presenting the award, the ITF Area Manager and State Coordinator, Mr. Ogbonna Simon Chikaodinaka, conveyed the commendation and goodwill of the Director-General and Chief Executive of ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, praising the Polytechnic for its exemplary performance in human capital development among tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Mr. Ogbonna noted that no other institution in Imo State has matched the level of commitment demonstrated by Federal Polytechnic Nekede in the area of human resource development, particularly under the current administration. He highlighted the Polytechnic’s transparent and consistent record-keeping, effective engagement with ITF programmes, and deliberate alignment with the Fund’s mandate.
According to him, the institution’s efforts have been instrumental in helping ITF achieve its targets within the Federal Polytechnic system. He disclosed that in 2025 alone, the Polytechnic sponsored 75 staff members for nine different training programmes, covering critical areas such as leadership development, communication skills, financial management, conflict resolution, and public administration.
The ITF delegation further explained that the award followed a comprehensive review of institutional records, which confirmed Federal Polytechnic Nekede as the best-performing institution in human resource development, thereby distinguishing it among other tertiary institutions nationwide.
The visit was attended by key members of the Polytechnic’s Management, including the Deputy Rector (Administration), Dr. Friday Uzoma Ibeaja; the Registrar, Mr. Stanley Ugochukwu Njoku; the Bursar, Mrs. Chinyere Adanne Ojukwu; the Polytechnic Librarian, Dr. Charles Obichere; and the Director, Industrial Placement Centre (IPC), Dr. Ijeoma Emeagi.
In her response, Dr. (Mrs.) Basilia Nkemdilim Igbokwe expressed profound gratitude to the Industrial Training Fund for the recognition, describing the award as a motivation to deepen staff capacity development and institutional excellence. She reaffirmed the Polytechnic’s commitment to sustaining transparent processes, strengthening human capital, and fostering continued collaboration with ITF and other regulatory and development agencies.
The award presentation further reinforces Federal Polytechnic Nekede’s growing reputation as a centre of excellence in staff development, driven by purposeful leadership and strategic investment in human capacity under the stewardship of Dr. (Mrs.) Basilia Nkemdilim Igbokwe.
