No fewer than 105 academic staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Bali, Taraba State, have benefitted from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) sponsorship for postgraduate studies in the last five years.
This was just as the polytechnic is seeking accreditation and resource inspection for 28 additional academic programmes, in a move to strengthen its position among the growing number of tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The rector , Dr Mohammed Usman, who stated this while presenting a scorecard of his administration during the institution’s Congregation Meeting, was optimistic that the accreditation would expand the courses the institution offers.
Usman’s meeting with the congregation was his final official engagement with the Polytechnic’s staff before the expiration of his tenure.
The outgoing Rector said that, as an institution of learning, his administration prioritised staff development. At the same time, about 219 academic and non-teaching staff also benefited from TETFund-sponsored conferences and workshops, both local and international, with over 120 staff members accessing Institutional-Based Research grants.
According to him, the investments in human capital development were aimed at improving teaching quality, research output and service delivery across the institution.
Dr Usman further said that the Polytechnic also recorded significant growth in academic programmes, with several National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes securing accreditation and 28 additional programmes currently awaiting accreditation and resource inspection.
He added that three new schools, the School of Agricultural Technology, School of General Studies, and School of Information Science and Environmental Sciences, were established during the period, alongside the creation of several departments, including Mechanical Engineering, Banking and Finance, Library and Information Science, Food Science and Technology, Marketing, Architectural Technology and Urban and Regional Planning.
He further disclosed that the institution introduced a Long Vacation and Part-Time programmes in Bali and Jalingo to expand access to tertiary education.
In the area of infrastructure, he said the Polytechnic completed major projects, including the 500-seat examination and lecture hall, student hostels, laboratories, classrooms, office buildings, water treatment facilities and a mini earth dam.
He added that work is currently ongoing on a Mechanical Engineering Complex and a 1.5-kilometre road network within the campus.
The Rector noted that more than 20 major procurements involving laboratory equipment, workshop facilities, office furniture and renewable energy infrastructure were completed between 2021 and 2025.
Dr Mohammed said the institution also strengthened its internally generated revenue through the registration of its Consultancy Services Unit with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the revival of the Staff Club as a commercial enterprise, the commencement of water production following NAFDAC approval, and the expansion of commercial farming activities.
Despite the achievements, he identified a lack of connection to the national electricity grid, incomplete perimeter fencing, bushfires, unresolved land compensation issues, and declining enrolment as persistent challenges confronting the Polytechnic.
The Rector then expressed confidence that the challenges would be addressed through continued engagement with the government and other stakeholders.
He thanked staff members for their support throughout his tenure and urged them to remain committed to advancing the institution’s vision and sustaining the progress recorded over the years.
