By Usman Baba Ibrahim
Since the management of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, published an advert for the position of Registrar on the school’s website, some Alumni members of the great Polytechnic and patriotic indigents have been advocating that the next Registrar should be appointed within the Polytechnic. They consider the last appointment of the Institution’s Scribe discouraging and dispiriting to its hardworking, focused, competent, versatile and qualified personnels in the Polytechnic.
The incumbent, Mr Sheye Kolawole Akande, is the tenth Registrar of Kwara State Polytechnic since the school was established a few decades ago. Sheye Kolawole, hailed from Omu-aran, is on the verge of concluding his tenure in the next few months.
But unlike his predecessors, he was not a staff of the Polytechnic before his appointment–he was, until his appointment as Registrar of our great citadel, Deputy Registrar Council Affairs/Administration of Lagos State Polytechnic.
As the process of electing new administrave officer of the Polytechnic is underway, it is highly critical for the concerned authorities to search amongst the ranking Deputy Registrars of the Kwara State Polytechnic as the next Registrar this time; for this is the usual practice in other Polytechnics so as to achieve administrative stability.
This gesture will not only go down well with many, but will also motivate the ranking Registry officials of the Polytechnic to do more and discharge their duties diligently. Like the Yoruba saying that goes thus: “Ku isé lo ma n mu orí ’ise yá. Doing otherwise will demoralize them and make them feel less important, and no one will be happy to be treated in such a denigrating manner.
Over Eleven Deputy Registrars are jostling for the position of the Registrar. People who have been in the Polytechnic for a while, and also conversant with the nitty-gritty of the school atmosphere.
Among the intenders, by virtue of the experiences and Versatility, there are young, energetic and registry-savvy men who had cross-posting experience across the units in the registry. These intellectuals should not be ridiculed by bringing someone from another Polytechnic to man the position that one of the individuals among the internal contestants can excel in if given the opportunity.
And for the Federal Character and Conventional Practice to ensue Unity, Justice and Sense of representation among the staff of the Polytechnic, it’s also expedient for selection committee to consider indigents from Kwara South Senatorial District of the State in order to bring to fair representation to the Polytechnic Management’s Structuration, Kwara Central currently enjoy the slot of Chief Executive and While a Kwara Northerner is occupying the seat of Bursar of the Institution.
The Position as it is peculiar to Polytechnic environment needs someone who’s internally breed with administrative midas-touch to become the next Registrar.
Registrar is an official in a University or Polytechnic who keeps enrollment and academic achievement records. There is no way someone who has cross-posting experiences across the units in the registry and holds excellent academic accomplishments will not be capable of the Registrar position.
The selection team should allow a level playing ground after the consideration of some conventional and technical factors highlighted above and review all the applicants and consider the most qualified for the administrative work.
May God bless Kwara State Polytechnic.
May God bless Kwara state.