Kano Poly seeks affiliation with BUK to run degree programmes –Rector

The management of the Kano State Polytechnic has begun a process of affiliating with Bayero University, Kano, to introduce degree programmes in no fewer than six disciplines, the Rector, Dr Kabir Bello-Dungurawa, said.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Kano, on Sunday, Bello-Dungurawa said the Polytechnic management had met with the Vice Chancellor of BUK, Prof. Sagir Abbas, to seek the affiliation, to enable it run B-Tech degree programmes.

He listed the programmes to include, Automobile Tech; Building Tech, Electrical and Electronics, Metal Work, Wood Work and Drafting Technology.

The rector explained that the institution had also concluded arrangements for the conduct of a resource verification exercise of the courses by the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE).

According to him, the institution was presently offering 64 National Ordinary Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND), with 49 of the courses due for accreditation in 2020/2021 academic year.

“We have reached out to the NBTE to seek collaboration and intimate them of our readiness for the accreditation of the 49 courses.

“The new management of the Polytechnic is poised to enhancing the quality of our programmes by getting them prepared for accreditation, re-accreditation and introducing new programmes.

“While sustaining the existing collaboration and linkages to ensure a conducive teaching and learning environment with emphasis on modern technology,” he said.

Bello-Dungurawa said the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund) had sponsored 23 lecturers of the Polytechnic for M.Sc and PhD programmes in various institutions, within and outside the country.

The fund, he said, had also embarked on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure development, construction of a 500-seat capacity lecture hall and renovation of other structures in the school.

He disclosed further that over 2,000 set of classroom furniture were distributed to schools under its supervision, while over 2,000 results were cleared and released to the graduates in the past three months.

Bello-Dungurawa said the management had also settled the backlog of outstanding allowances to the 217 casual staff, payment of 75 per cent of the six months Peculiar Earned Allowances to academic staff, as well as payment of Part-Time lecturers’ claims and payment of school subvention and departmental allocation.

Commenting on coronavirus campaign, Bello-Dungurawa said the management had adopted proactive COVID-19 safety measures in all the schools under its supervision.

While commending Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje for his support, the rector identified shortage of staff and offices as some of the obstacles militating against the effective running of the institution.

NAN reports that there are six units of schools under the supervision of the Kano State Polytechnic.

The schools are: Kano State School of Management Studies; Kano State School of Technology, School Remedial and Technical Education, Rano, School of Environmental Studies, Gwarzo, Aminu Kano College of Legal and Islamic Studies and Kano State Institute for Information Technology, Kura.