The Management and staff of the Abia state Polytechnic, Aba, today, could not contain their grief, as the former Rector of the school, Associate Prof Hagler Okorie, officially hands over to the Deputy Rector, Academics, Mrs Chidinma Martha Ndukwe.
The staff who had already reinvigorated their expectations for a better Abia State Polytechnic under Hagler Okorie, expressed shock and sadness over his removal.
At the brief hand over ceremony held in the school, staff were seen wearing long faces and probably wishing Professor Hagler was allowed to stay longer.
In his remarks, the ex Rector of the School, Ass. Prof Hagler Okorie, charged the new Rector, Mrs Chidinma Ndukwe, to keep the renewed vigour, as a member of the school management team, who understands the problems of the school and has the passion to turnaround the school for the best.
Okorie advised the new Rector to make the welfare of the staff her priority, by pursuing to offset some backlog of their unpaid salaries, stating that he was able to offset a month salary from the several months owed the workers under his two months stay as Rector.
However, he, encouraged her not to relent in the pursuit of the lofty programmes and policies he initiated, with particular reference to the Abiapoly Microfinance Bank, Abiapoly Schools International, Abiapoly Business school, among other projects.
Ass. Prof Okorie, while appreciating the management team for their cooperation, tenacity and resolve in the remaking of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, charged them to accord much more respect and cooperation to the new Rector.
Meanwhile, he commended the immediate past Governor of the state, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu and the incumbent Governor, Dr Alex Otti for the opportunity to serve.
Responding, the new Rector, Mrs Chidinma Martha Ndukwe, thanked Prof Hagler Okorie for the tremendous input made in the school, even in his short stay as a Rector.
Mrs Ndukwe while wishing the outgone Rector success in his endeavors, reiterated her resolve to pursue with vigour every laid down programme and policies of the former Rector, insisting that the former Rector’s dreams and aspirations for a rebranded Abia State Polytechnic, would not go unrealized, while promising to carry everyone along in her administration.
Recall, that the Governor of the State, Dr Alex Otti, few days ago, dissolved all boards of parastatal, agencies and institutions, instructing the most senior civil servant to take over in Acting capacity the leadership of these organisations, pending when a substantive head would be appointed.
