Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra state has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the frontline automobile vehicle manufacturing company in Africa, Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing (IVM) for a mutual partnership between the company and the Institution.
The two parties will also work to establish a research and training centre for the institution, Federal Polytechnic, Oko.
Recall that IVM currently runs an Innovation Enterprise Institution (IEI) under the name INNOSON KIARA Academy (IKA). The institution offers programs for the award of the National Innovation Diploma (NID) as well as National Technical Certificates (NTC) to the enrollees.
The Rector, Engr. Dr. Francisca Nwafulugo who spoke to journalists shortly after the two parties put pen to paper at Innoson Vehicles headquarters, Nnewi Anambra State, yesterday, further revealed that the MoU defined the operational framework governing the cooperation between IVM and Federal Polytechnic, Oko.
According to the Rector, “Federal Polytechnic, Oko got the approval of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for this collaboration and constituted a 23-man committee led by the former national President of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics’ (ASUP), Comrade Chibuzo Asomugha.
“The signing of MoU between the two parties will provide effective collaboration in capacity building of staff and students.
Engr Nwafulugo also noted that both the Institution and the company will offer a wide selection of training, seminars, and acquisition of skills for staff and students in Engineering and other relevant fields while other departments in the Institution will engage in design, fabrication of tools, repairs, and maintenance.
“The overall objective of the partnership”, according to Rector “is to promote Institutional exchange by inviting experts in the company to participate in a variety of training, acquisition of skills activities, and professional development.
“We hope to establish, through this collaboration, a standard training and service delivery workshops in the Institution to serve as revenue hub for the Institution, she said.
On his part, the chairman/CEO of IVM, Chief Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, said the partnership will not be limited to IVM but will embrace other subsidiaries of the Innoson Group of companies relevant to programmes run in the Federal Polytechnic, Oko that will lead to the acquisition of technical skills by both staff and students
“This partnership and collaboration will see Federal Polytechnic, Oko assist the products of Innoson Kiara Academy by drawing course contents that will identify and address major areas of deficiencies and other related National Diploma curricula.
“These may be administered to the students on graduation to qualify them for the HND program in Federal Polytechnic, Oko.
“Moreso, with the partnership, Innoson Kiara Academy will be retraining the academic staff and students of the Federal Polytechnic Oko National Diploma students from selected departments to be sent for Industrial Training at IKA” he said.
Other dignitaries present during the MoU signing includes: the CEO of Innoson Kiara Academy, Mr. Endi Ezengwa, Mr. Alfred Nwosu and Obinna Chukwuma who are members of the Board of directors of Innoson Vehicles while the Acting Registrar, Mrs. Ifeoma Ezeokoli, Comrade Chibuzo Asomugha, deans and directors of the Federal Polytechnic Oko represented the Institution during the ceremony.
