By: Noble Uchegbu Uchechukwu Zachariah
​There is a quiet but powerful revolution taking place within the serene landscape of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri (FPNO). It is not one marked by clamour, but by the steady, rhythmic clicking of keyboards, the intensive decoding of Artificial Intelligence, and the mastering of data analytics.
On Monday, June 15, 2026, this revolution took center stage at the institution’s Virtual Library as the Continuing Education Centre (CEC) Directorate, in vibrant collaboration with the ICT Directorate, celebrated the graduation and certificate presentation ceremony of its Batch II Digital Skills Training Programme.
​For three rigorous months, staff, students, and members of the public immersed themselves in an intensive digital incubator. What they emerged with was far more than mere pieces of paper; they stepped out equipped with the modern armor required to thrive in a globally competitive, technology-driven world.
A Vision of Grace: Amplifying the Rector’s Digital Agenda
At the heart of this transformative milestone is a visionary leader whose administrative steps are anchored on institutional excellence. Speaking at the ceremony, the Rector, Dr. Mrs. Basilia Nkemdilim Igbokwe, commended both the CEC and the ICT Directorates for executing an initiative that perfectly aligns with her administration’s eleven-point agenda.
​With deep conviction, the Rector applauded the participants for intentionally investing in their professional growth. She stressed that in today’s rapidly evolving workplace, digital literacy has ceased to be an added advantage, it is now an absolute prerequisite.
​”Digital literacy has become indispensable in today’s world,” Dr. Mrs. Igbokwe emphasized, reaffirming management’s unwavering commitment to human capital development. “We will continue to support and subsidize programmes that promote excellence, drive innovation, and ultimately improve service delivery across all cadres of our great institution.”
​The Rector’s visionary leadership went beyond rhetoric. Recognizing that high-level training can often be financially prohibitive, her administration stepped in to heavily subsidize the programme, lifting a massive financial burden off the participants and democratizing access to premium digital education.
​A Labour of Transformation: The Director’s Perspective
​In her emotion laden and profound address, the Director of the Continuing Education Centre, Dr. Mrs. Nene V. Ugorji, returned all glory to God Almighty for the seamless execution of the training. She poured out immense gratitude to the Rector, whom she aptly described as the “Rector of Grace”, and the principal officers, including the Deputy Rector, Dr. Obinna Iwueke; the Registrar, Chief Sir Stanley Njoku; the Bursar, Mrs. Adanne Ojiuko; and the Polytechnic Librarian, Dr. Charles Obichere, for their overwhelming solidarity.
​Dr. Ugorji explained that the intensive curriculum was specifically engineered to groom digitally compliant personnel capable of erasing operational bottlenecks.
​”We gathered not only to celebrate the completion of a training programme,” Dr. Ugorji remarked with pride, “but to celebrate personal growth, resilience, innovation, and the acquisition of skills that will undoubtedly open doors to greater productivity and career advancement. Together, under this visionary leadership, we are proving that we can achieve monumental strides within our polytechnic community.”
​She also paid glowing tribute to the co-architects of the program’s success: the ICT Directorate, the dedicated facilitators, Mr. Kayode and Mr. David Obasi and her tireless internal team, including Deputy Director CEC Mr. Cyril Ibe and Deputy Registrar Mrs. Uche Njoku.
​ Voices from the Crucible: Triumph and Tangible Innovation
​The true measure of the programme’s success echoed through the testimonies of its graduates, who described the three-month journey as both grueling and intensely rewarding.
​For the institution’s Medical Director, Dr. Ikejiaku Longinus, the training was an eye-opener that shattered traditional administrative barriers. He noted that the program substantially broadened his mastery of advanced Microsoft Excel and Artificial Intelligence. Armed with these tools, he revealed he can now seamlessly and independently execute complex institutional tasks, such as appraisal processes, completely transforming the workflow at the medical center.
​In a similar vein, Dr. Mrs. Lilian Esiagu expressed her profound gratitude to the Rector for the financial cushions provided via the subsidies, praising the facilitators for their infinite patience and professional dedication in guiding tech-novices into digital proficiency.
​Perhaps the most electrifying highlight of the ceremony came from Mr. Anokwuru Stanley Ugochukwu, a part-time lecturer in the Department of Procurement and Supply Chain Management. Proving that the training unlocks raw entrepreneurial innovation, Mr. Anokwuru stepped forward to present the Rector with his own NAFDAC-approved products, including premium liquid soap and disinfectants.
​He disclosed that the sheer encouragement and strategic mindset drilled into him by the CEC Director inspired him to venture into commercial production. Stunned and deeply moved by this instant manifestation of the program’s impact, the Rector warmly commended him and instantly pledged to personally sponsor his corporate registration fees.
​Projecting the Impact: Elevating the FPNO Brand
​The successful graduation of Batch II sends a clear, resonant message to the larger society: the Federal Polytechnic Nekede is not merely keeping pace with the digital age; it is actively dictating its trajectory.
​Internally, the impact is immediate. By upgrading the digital competencies of its workforce, FPNO is systematically transitioning into a smart campus. Administrative processes will become faster, data management more secure, and student-facing services infinitely more efficient.
​Externally, this initiative exponentially boosts the institution’s brand visibility. By opening its doors to students and members of the public, Nekede has positioned itself as a premier regional hub for technological empowerment and corporate training. It projects an institution that does not just award certificates, but breeds self-reliant innovators, entrepreneurs, and technologically grounded professionals.
​As the curtains fell on the Batch II ceremony, one truth remained undeniable: under the forward thinking leadership of Dr. Mrs. Basilia Nkemdilim Igbokwe, the Federal Polytechnic Nekede is firmly anchored on the cutting edge of modern education, proving that when visionary leadership meets structured capacity building, the possibilities for societal transformation are limitless.
