Port Harcourt Polytechnic, Rumuola Port Harcourt held her Thanksgiving and Re-Dedication Service on Tuesday, 7th February 2017.
The Deputy Rector, Dr. Alex Fubara while delivering his welcome speech, thanked the Rector, Dr. S. B. Kalabo and the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Nyesom Wike, for the conversion of Rivers State College of Arts and Science to a Polytechnic.
Giving a brief history of the Polytechnic, he recounted how it had been 16 years of struggle and submission to successive Governments to achieve this new height. In 1984, Police Commissioner Fidelis Oyakhilome on 19th April 1984 signed into law Rivers State School of Basic Studies (Edit 8, 1984) making it retroactive from 1977. In 1991, Col Godwin Abbey on 23rd October 1991, then signed into law repelling the former edit and converting the school to Rivers State College of Arts and Science (Edit 12, 1991, published in official gazette of RS No.3 May, 28 1998 Vol 30). Finally, on July 4th 2016 Governor Nyesom Wike signed into law Port Harcourt Polytechnic Law No. 4, 2016 which transferred all matters of RIVCAS to a Polytechnic. By this metamorphosis, the College in addition effective, began awarding Diploma certificates following accreditation by National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). The Polytechnic currently has eight (8) accredited programs, and her graduates have participated in the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC).
The Polytechnic celebrates her modest achievements and aim to give our students a standard and quality educational program in line with the standards of NBTE. A lot is expected and preparations are in place for the accreditation of more higher and national diploma programs.
Delivering a short sermon before offering the prayer of thanks and dedication, the International Director, Pastor Isaac Olori spoke about Hannah who dedicated Samuel to God (1 Samuel 2).
Excerpts from his sermon below:
"Anything devoted to God becomes sacred, to primarily serve God’s purpose. You might wonder that this is an institution but we are all called to serve God – He created all things for His pleasure. Even though it is an institution, you serve God when you raise the future generation that will live to fear God and serve humanity. Hence, by dedicating this institution we are saying in this institution, God’s purpose will be fulfilled. When you tamper with devoted things, you attract consequences. Your attitude as a staff or student should now change, no more harassment, malpractice, cultism etc because if you do, you are tampering with a devoted thing. Hannah prayed after many years of barrenness, just like this Polytechnic was not recognized and looked down for many years. When she got Samuel, she lent him to God i.e. she dedicated him to God. The result of this was that Samuel became the greatest prophet in Israel. Today, we are lending this institution to God and anything lent to God will not return without profit. As we dedicate this institution to God, you will be lifted. This will be a place where God will be glorified."
