By Noble Uchegbu Uchechukwu Zachariah
In a strategic move to strengthen collaboration between the institution and families of students, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, has inaugurated a Parents Management Forum (PMF), creating a new platform designed to deepen stakeholder engagement and support the continued development of the Polytechnic.
The historic inauguration took place on Friday at the institution’s 1000-capacity auditorium, where the Rector, Dr. Mrs.Basilia Nkemdilim Igbokwe, formally introduced the initiative as part of the institution’s broader vision of inclusive governance and shared responsibility for student development.
The inauguration of the Parents Management Forum formed part of the key highlights of activities marking the 48th Matriculation Ceremony of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, held on Friday, March 6, 2026, where the institution formally admitted a new cohort of students into its academic community.
Addressing parents, staff, and other stakeholders at the event, the Rector explained that the establishment of the Forum received the formal approval of the Polytechnic’s 15th Governing Council. She described the initiative as a deliberate step to bring parents and guardians closer to the institutional decision-making environment while strengthening the support system around students.
According to Dr. Igbokwe, parents and guardians remain vital partners in the academic journey of students. By creating the Parents Management Forum, the institution is building a structured avenue through which families can engage with management, contribute ideas, and support the academic, moral, and social development of their wards.
She emphasized that the success of students cannot be achieved by the institution alone, noting that sustainable academic excellence requires collaboration between management, parents, staff, and the wider community.
The Forum, she said, will therefore serve as a bridge of dialogue, trust, and cooperation between the Polytechnic and the families whose children are enrolled in the institution.
Beyond strengthening communication, the Rector explained that the PMF would also play a supportive role in the institution’s development agenda. Members of the Forum are expected to mobilize supplementary resources that will support academic programmes, infrastructural expansion, and other strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the learning environment.
Dr. Igbokwe also noted that the Forum could contribute meaningfully to the Polytechnic’s ongoing modernization efforts, particularly in the area of digital transformation. These include the automation of key academic processes such as student registration, electronic fee payments, results processing, electronic transcripts, digital clearance systems, and modern results management platforms.
She further revealed that the Forum would help facilitate the creation of a comprehensive stakeholder database that will strengthen communication between parents and the institution, enabling families to receive timely updates about their wards’ academic progress in accordance with institutional regulations.
Membership of the Parents Management Forum reflects a broad representation of the Polytechnic community. The body includes parents and guardians, principal officers of the institution, selected deputy registrars, heads of departments, course advisers, hostel officers from the Division of Student Affairs, representatives of the host community, the Polytechnic Security Unit, and the Students’ Union Government.
To ensure effective coordination, the Forum will be led by a chairman drawn from the parents and guardians constituency, working alongside a vice chairman from the Polytechnic community and other designated officers.
At the inaugural meeting, members elected Mr. Anslem Onuoha as Chairman, Dr. Obinna Iwueke as Vice-Chairman, Mr. Gabriel Nwaka as Secretary, and Mrs. Salvation Ubah as Assistant Secretary.
The Rector disclosed that the Forum will hold statutory meetings once every semester, while emergency sessions may be convened whenever urgent matters affecting students or the institution arise.
She also announced that the PMF will be registered as a non-governmental organisation under Nigerian laws governing incorporated trustees. The body will operate under a Board of Trustees tasked with ensuring transparency, accountability, and adherence to its constitution and regulatory obligations.
Dr. Igbokwe stressed that all resources generated by the Forum will be applied strictly toward achieving its non-profit objectives, particularly initiatives that enhance student welfare, strengthen discipline, promote academic excellence, and contribute to the stability and reputation of the Polytechnic.
Calling on members to approach the new platform with commitment and integrity, the Rector urged parents and stakeholders to see the Forum as a collective investment in the future of students and the continued growth of the institution.
She also acknowledged the efforts of the Polytechnic Registrar, Mr. Stanley Ugochukwu Njoku, who served as the Convener of the Parents Management Forum and coordinated the processes that led to its successful establishment.
With that, Dr. Igbokwe formally declared the Parents Management Forum of Federal Polytechnic Nekede inaugurated, marking the beginning of what stakeholders described as a new chapter of collaboration between the institution and the families of its students.
