Abia State Makes History as 150 Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic Graduates Receive ₦1 Million Each
The event also featured a One-Day Entrepreneurship Workshop held under the Abia State Graduate Empowerment Programme, designed to equip the beneficiaries with essential business and innovation skills.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Rector of the institution, Dr. C.K. Okoro, highlighted the administration’s renewed commitment to transparency, discipline, and academic excellence. He reaffirmed that the institution is undergoing major reforms to position it for global competitiveness.
Dr. Okoro announced strict measures to eradicate unethical practices on campus, noting that:
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No lecturer is allowed to demand money, sell handouts, or force students to buy textbooks.
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Any staff member caught engaging in such practices will be immediately dismissed.
These reforms, he said, usher in a new era of seriousness, integrity, and accountability within the institution.
In another significant development, lecturers who were previously disengaged are now receiving their outstanding salary arrears — a move aimed at restoring trust and strengthening staff morale.
The major highlight of the convocation was the distribution of ₦150 million to 150 graduates, with each beneficiary receiving ₦1 million courtesy of the state government. The initiative is intended to support young graduates as they venture into entrepreneurship and other productive endeavours.
Parents, students, and dignitaries praised the gesture as transformative, describing it as a bold step toward empowering youths and promoting quality technical education in Abia State.
This year’s convocation is expected to be remembered as a landmark moment — one that reinforces merit, encourages innovation, and provides graduates with a strong foundation for success beyond the classroom.