History of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic
The Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana came into being in 1981 with Engr. Dr. O.B Epelle as the Pioneer Rector. It was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to help serve the growing needs of our country in her efforts to be self-sufficient in technological education.
At its inception, Government directed that the site of the former Federal Government College Okposi, abandoned after the civil war should be used as temporary site of the Polytechnic while the permanent site was designed for Unwana. An interim office was immediately established at Afikpo Local Government Headquarters and with the cooperation of the people of Okposi, plans to open the temporary site were actively pursued. Rehabilitation work began on January 15, 1982 and within two months the secondary school was partially shaped into an Academic Campus even though temporary.
On November 18, 1981, a Federal Government team led by Mrs. E. Joyce Coker, an Assistant Director of Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, together with the new Rector, Engr. Dr. O.B. Epelle, the Director of Planning, National Board for Technical Education and the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Prof. Obiako, visited Unwana and met with the traditional ruler, Late Ezeogo Dr. Akanu Ibiam, who handed over an area of land approximately 620 hectares (AIFPU) which the Unwana Community had donated for the building of the permanent site of the Polytechnic.
On Saturday, March 13, 1982, the first entrance examination for the admission of the first batch of students into the Polytechnic took place in three centers in the Country. 178 students as a result were offered admission for the National Diploma courses in Business Administration, Secretarial Studies, Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology. On April 30, 1982, the foundation stone of the Polytechnic was laid at Unwana by the then Civilian Vice-President of the Federation, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.
The first batch of students were admitted on May 27, 1982, and lectures began immediately at Okposi. Consequently, the administrative office was moved from Afikpo, its interim location to Okposi. The 1982 session saw the addition of Departments of Accountancy and Science Laboratory Technology, while the Department of Civil Engineering Technology was added in the 1983/84 session. Altogether, thirty four sets of students have graduated. The first convocation in March 1984 was for 1981/82, 1982/83 graduates. Each batch of graduate was trained for four semesters for National Diploma (ND) or for Higher National Diploma (HND). Presently, the Polytechnic has 27 Academic Departments.
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