OKO POLY to establish mechatronics department

The Rector, Federal Polytechnic Oko, in Anambra State, Prof Godwin Onu, has called for more funding for the execution of 2012 Capital projects at the institution. He said the institution plans to establish Department of Mechatronics.

Onu spoke while receiving officials of the Federal Ministries of Education and Finance who came to monitor the first and second quarters of the 2012 capital project execution in the school.

He commended the efforts of the Federal Government in uplifting the status of technical education. He decried the delay in the release of funds, noting that this had stunted infrastructural development in the polytechnic. 

According to the Rector, "we are aware of government's efforts to ensure judicious use of funds", but the delay in the release of funds for capital projects constrain completion of projects on time". 

Onu disclosed that the polytechnic had, among other things, in the 2013 budget, planned for the establishment of the Department of Mechatronics.

This, he said, would be a meeting point for Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics Engineering. He added that the cheapest machine costs about $1 million (N160 million) to acquire. 

He said the school was perfecting plans of establishing school of Marine and Aeronautic Technology, adding that the Polytechnic would soon also establish the Department of Nano Technology which would specialize in micro chips production and called for more funds to achieve the feats. 

However, the leader of the group, Barde Galtima said their mission was not to witch hunt any body or institution but to strictly monitor the use of allocations for capital projects, adding that such exercise was routine. 

He lauded the Polytechnics management for the peaceful and cordial atmosphere in the institution, which he said would,  to a greater extent ensure development and promised to take back the Rector's message to the ministry.