Brief History of FEDPOFFA
THE Federal Polytechnic, Offa came out of gestation via a presidential
announcement made during a courtesy call on His Royal Highness, Olofa of Offa,
late Oba Mustapha Olawoore Olanipekun Ariwajoye II, by the then Military
President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who was on an official visit to
Kwara State in 1991.
Consequently, a Local Task Force was then constituted by His Royal Highness, the
Olofa, under the Chairman of Late Alhaji Tiamiyu Olatinwo with six other eminent
indigenes of Offa and Chief Ayotunde Raji as Secretary.
With the release of Olalomi Comprehensive College by the community, the Local
Task Force prepared the ground for easy take-off of the Polytechnic at the site
which now serves as the Mini Campus of the Polytechnic.
The appointment of Engr. (Mrs.) Taiwo Adeife Osemeikhian, as the pioneer Rector
commenced both administrative and academic activities in the Polytechnic in
February, 1992. Engr. Adeife served from 1992 till year 2000, under the
supervision of a Federal Task Force led by the then Director of Science and
Technology, Federal Ministry of Education. The Task Force was responsible for
taking major policy decisions affecting the Polytechnic and performing the
functions of the Governing Council. In year 2000, She handed over to Dr. Razaq
Bello from whom Dr. Mufutau Olatunde Olatinwo, took over to pilot the affairs of
the Polytechnic as Ag. Rector and later as the third substantive Rector of the
Polytechnic in 2008. The incumbent Rector, Dr. Lateef Ademola Olatunji, was
appointed the 4th substantive Rector in December, 2016.
The first Governing Council of the Polytechnic led by late Hon. Adesola Oyeladun
Oyemade was inaugurated alongside councils of other Tertiary institutions in
year 2000. The second Governing Council, headed by Mr. Dogara Igube, came on
board in 2005 while the third Governing Council headed by late Senator (Engr.)
Onyeka Okoroafor, was constituted in 2009. The fourth Governing Council, led by
Chief Okey Ezenwa, was inaugurated in 2013 while the fifth Governing Council
under the leadership of Chief Oseloka Zikora was inaugurated along with other
Federal Polytechnics in 2017.
The first batches of three hundred and sixty (360) students were admitted into
the six programmes viz;
I. Financial Studies
II. Business Studies
III. Secretarial Studies
IV. Science Laboratory Technology
V. Electrical/Electronic Engineering
VI. Computer Science.
From this humble beginning, the Polytechnic has developed to its present
enviable status with 21 courses offered at National Diploma (ND) level, 23 at
Higher National Diploma (HND) level and Pre-ND programmes in Arts and Science.
Location:
The Polytechnic Mini Campus is located at the southern end of the town along
Offa-Osogbo Way, while the Main Campus is located along Offa-Ojoku Road, Offa.
Organizational Structure:
1. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria - Visitor to the Polytechnic
2. Governing Council
3. Academic Board
Governing Council Members:
1. Chairman
2. Member (Rector)
3. Other members
4. Secretary (Registrar)
Academic Board Members:
1. Rector (Chairman)
2. Deputy Rector, Administration
3. Deputy Rector, Academics
4. Registrar (Secretary)
5. Polytechnic Librarian
6. All Heads of Department
7. All Chief Lecturers (Co-opted members)
8. Representative of Academic Staff
9. Coordinator, Pre-National Diploma
(Pre-ND) Science
10. Coordinator, Pre-National Diploma
(Pre-ND) Arts
Management Advisory Council:
1. Rector (Chairman)
2. Deputy Rector (Administration)
3. Deputy Rector (Academics)
4. Registrar
5. Librarian
6. Bursar
7. All Deans
8. All Directors
Principal Officers:
The Principal Officers of the Polytechnic are the following:
1. Rector
2. Deputy Rector (Administration)
3. Deputy Rector (Academics)
4. Registrar
5. Librarian
6. Bursar
Departments and courses offered in the Polytechnic:
1. School of Applied Science and Technology
ND: Computer Science; Food Technology; Science Laboratory Technology (SLT);
Statistics
HND: Computer Science; Food Technology; Statistics; Science Laboratory
Technology with options in
i. Biochemistry ii. Microbiology iii. Physics with Electronics
2. School of Business and Management Studies
ND: Accountancy; Banking and Finance;
Business Administration; Insurance
HND: Accountancy; Banking and Finance; Business Administration; Insurance;
Marketing.
3. School of Communication and Information Technology
ND: Library and Information Science; Office Technology and Management; Mass
Communication
HND: Library and Information Science; Office Technology and Management; Mass
Communication
4. School of Engineering Technology
ND: Computer Engineering; Civil Engineering; Electrical/Electronic Engineering;
Mechanical Engineering
HND: Computer Engineering; Civil Engineering; Electrical/Electronic Engineering
(with options in I. Electronics and Telecommunication ii. Power and Machine);
Mechanical Engineering (with options in I. Power and Plant ii. Manufacturing).
5. School of Environmental Studies
ND: Architecture; Building Technology; Estate Management and Valuation;
Geo-informatics; Urban and Regional Planning; Quantity Surveying
HND: Architecture; Building Technology; Quantity Surveying
6. School of General Studies
Rectors till Date:
1. Engr. (Dr.) Taiwo Adeife-Osemeikhan (1992-2000)
2. Dr. Razaq Bello (2000-2006)
3. Mr. Olatunde Durotimi (Ag. Rector: April July, 2006)
4. Dr. Mufutau Olatinwo (Ag. Rector: July 2006 - March 2008)
5. Dr. Mufutau Olatinwo (March 2008 February 2016)
6. Dr. (Mrs.) Ayodele Kuburat Olaosebikan (Ag. Rector: February 2016 January
2017)
7. Dr. Lateef Ademola Olatunji (January, 2017 till date)
Achievements
Since inception, successive administrations have made placing the
Polytechnic at the zenith of academic excellence, their guiding watchword and
this has, in no small measure, contributed hugely to great feats recorded in the
following areas:
1. Partnership with the Chinese Government through her embassy in Nigeria, to
train and retrain staff of the Polytechnic in the People’s Republic of China.
Some staff members of the Polytechnic have concluded their studies under this
arrangement while others are still on the programme.
2. Research work on how to produce bread and other confectioneries from Sweet
Potato. This effort has attracted the attention of world's greatest
philanthropist, Mr. Bill Gates, whose Poverty Eradication Foundation team
visited the Polytechnic to chart a partnership course.
3. As a testimony of qualitative education being imparted to the students of the
Polytechnic, a graduate of the Polytechnic, Mr. Towoju Rapheal, was honoured
with a national award by the late Nigeria President, Alh. Musa Yar'Adua, for his
meritorious performance during the 2011/2012 National Youth service Corps (NYSC)
programme in Akwa-Ibom State.
4. Fabrication of various computer accessories and engineering equipment by
students of the School of Engineering Technology.
5. Invention of new technology to prepare Fufu as against the conventional
method believed to be less hygienic to human's health, by a student of Food
Technology Department.
6. The Polytechnic Contingent were the champions at the 15th edition of the
Nigeria Polytechnics Games (NIPOGA) held in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State in 2008.
7. As at now, the Polytechnic has recorded almost 40 Doctorate Degree holders
many of them sponsored by TETFund. Since 2011, more than 82 staff have
benefitted from the TETFund International Workshops/Conferences. A staff in the
Computer Technology Department of the Polytechnic, Dr. Sam Obaje, is currently
enjoying TETFund Research Grant of over sixteen million naira.
8. The Polytechnic Central Library now runs on Virtual Library.
9. In strict compliance with drive for information technology, the Polytechnic
has upgraded its computer centre with state-of-the-art equipment, and has moved
from the conventional method of admissions exercise to e-registration and other
online based procedures.
10. In terms of infrastructural development, the Polytechnic is making waves and
this is evident in the recent constructions of high quality laboratories,
workshops and modern office complex equipped with up-to-date working facilities.
11. Staff welfare is highly prioritized.
12. Regular and uninterrupted academic calendar
13. Improved relationship with security agencies resulting in enhanced security
in the Polytechnic and its environs.
14. Existing peaceful coexistence in the Polytechnic as a result of mutual
understanding between the Management and the three labour unions including the
students' union in the Polytechnic.
15. Convocation of all backlogs of graduates of the Polytechnic up to 2016/ 2017
academic session.
16. Formation of working partnership with professional Agencies/Institutes (i.e.
ICAN, CIPM etc)
17. Improved capacity training for staff.
18. The Polytechnic was recently ranked 8th position in the latest pilot ranking
and assessment of 112 Federal, State and Private polytechnics in Nigeria by the
National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).