Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka
A new and substantive Rector, Dr. Francisca Unoma Nwafulugo, has been appointed for the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, by the Federal Government.
The appointment of Nwafulugo, who is the first female rector of the institution, takes effect from February 4, 2019.
In a statement, yesterday, by the institution’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Obini Onuchukwu, the chemical engineer will succeed Dr. Izuchukwu Onu, who had been the acting rector for the past one year.
The new rector, who received her letter of appointment on Tuesday, from the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, was until her appointment, a chief lecturer at the Chemical Engineering Department of Kaduna Polytechnic.
Giving more details of the rector, Onuchukwu said: “Nwafulugo attended the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, where she obtained Higher National Diploma (HND) in 1991. She proceeded to obtain a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Education (Technical) from Kaduna Polytechnic in 2010.
“She obtained a PGD certificate in engineering in 1999 and later, Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering (Process Analysis and Development Option) in 2002, both from Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. She proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where she obtained her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemical Engineering in 2014.
“Dr. Nwafulugo is a member of over six professional bodies and associations, including Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSCHE). She also belongs to the Association of Professional Women Engineers (APWEN), Waste Management Society of Nigeria (WAMSON) and Women in Technical Education and Employment (WITED), Kaduna Polytechnic.”
Meanwhile, Anambra State Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha, has hailed her appointment as substantive first female rector of the institution.
Omenugha said: “I’m excited that two major federal government institutions are headed by women – the Federal College of Education and now the polytechnic.”