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Nigeria-China relationship witnessed a step up recently when the Federal Polytechnic, Offa in conjunction with the Chinese Embassy, Abuja, organised an exhibition on Chinese Culture and Landscape to further strengthen cultural and otherwise bond between the two countries.
Nigeria-China relationship witnessed a step up recently when the Federal Polytechnic, Offa in conjunction with the Chinese Embassy, Abuja, organised an exhibition on Chinese Culture and Landscape to further strengthen cultural and otherwise bond between the two countries.
The exhibition which was a direct fall out of the Polytechnic management's effort to link the institution with government agencies, parastatals, national and international organizations, was intended to give a better understanding of Chinese cultures and bring the country closer to Nigerian people.
At the formal opening of the exhibition, the Minister of Education, Mrs. Chinwe Nora Obaji stated that the exhibition was another proof of the commitment of the Federal Government to evolve beneficial relationship with developed and advanced countries.
She commended the level of participation of Chinese nationals in various aspects of the Nigerian economy noting that President Olusegun Obasanjo's recent visit to China has advanced mutual cooperation between the two countries.
The occasion was used to reiterate that Federal Government's determination and policy thrust of improving the quality of the output of tertiary institutions would be vigorously pursued as government would no longer allow institutions to admit more students than they can adequately provide for.
While reminding the Governing Council and the Management to develop own 'language" and ensure that all records and accounting processes are computerised, the Minister who spoke through the Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Professor Samsudeen Amali implored all managers of tertiary institutions to take advantage of the various reforms put in place by the Federal Government to reposition their institutions to play roles within the ambience of these reforms especially the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS).
She charged the council and the management to ensure that breakdown of law and order as occurred before, does not occur anymore furthering those institutions should constantly develop and apply new strategies to deal with the problems in the systems.
Moreover, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Wang Youqui hoped that the exhibition would bring the two countries closer and enhance accelerated and frequent interactions between the people of the two countries.
The Chairman, Governing Council of the Polytechnic, Honourable Dogara Macaulay Igube who commended the management and committee on linkages for their foresight and efforts to reach out to national and international bodies for assistance and cooperation, was optimistic that the exhibition would usher in an era of meaningful cooperation and assistance.
He further thanked the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria for finding the Polytechnic worthy of this enviable gesture of fellowship and linkage. He reassured that the council would contribute own quota to the development of the polytechnic.
Earlier in a speech, Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Razaq Bello thanked the Chinese Ambassador for the great decision to support the Polytechnic to train staff and expose them to modern trends in research development through workshops and conferences.
The Rector, who was quick to inform the gathering of the institution's commitment to academic excellence, said the decision has been paying off with some breakthroughs. 'There is the major and nationally acclaimed breakthrough in potato for flour project which is currently receiving attention of the Federal Government. We have also recorded remarkable successes in the fabrication/assembling of items especially in mechanical, electrical and computer technology engineering" he added.
He mentioned inadequate funding, lack of adequately trained staff especially in core engineering and computer science programmes as well as lack of required equipment/machines/instruments to train students to acquire skills to be able to be self employed and contribute positively to national economic and technological development, as militating factors against rapid growth of the polytechnic.
According to him, the problems and the fact that any institution that would remain relevant today must reach out and be an active player in the modern world, prompted the drive to establish linkage with China.
Other dignitaries that graced the occasion were the Embassy Secretary of the People's Republic of China Mr. Li Le, representatives of Rectors and Provosts of higher education institutions in Kwara and Osun States, members of the governing council of the polytechnic, principal officers, members of the management advisory committee of the polytechnic, the industrial and students' unions on campus and other invited guests.