Students disrupt Anambra Poly’s convocation over issuance of invalid certificates

Some former students of the Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu, had on Friday disrupted the convocation ceremony of the institution. They were seen shutting the gate and denying visitors and some management staff access into the convocation arena.

The protest procession which was led by past students of the polytechnic was due to the issuance of certificates that they say have been rejected by other institutions as well as employers of labour.

A former student of the institution Frank Onyekachi Imo, who spoke to journalists said: “Some of our students who graduated here and attempted to further their education, their certificates were rejected and described as invalid.

“How can the school be talking of graduating students, when the students they graduated many years ago have not been mobilized for service?”

Confirming what Frank said, another former student had the following to say: “I graduated here in 2015, and up till now, I’m yet to be mobilized for service, nor have I gotten my certificate. Some of our former students who have gotten their certificates were rejected in other institutions where they went to further their education, and their certificates were described as invalid.

“How can the school be talking of graduating students, when the ones who you graduated have not been properly taken care of.

“We are appealing to Governor Willie Obiano to look into the polytechnic. This is a state-owned institution, and there are other institutions that were founded by other states recently, but their certificates are recognized and their students mobilized for service.”

The students have also called on the Commissioner for Education, Prof Kate Omenugha, who was a guest at the institution on the day of the convocation to do something about the lingering issue.

The students further demanded the sack of the head of the institution noting she has been the Rector of the institution since 2007, the institution under her watch has suffered setbacks in terms of the number of students which is said to have reduced and as well as the quality of output.

Mr. Chinedu Ejikeme, the Dean of Student Affairs however said the convocation ceremony was been held in spite of the disruption saying that only a few students decided to disrupt the convocation.

“It was just printer’s error that some of the students’ names did not appear for convocation, but from this week, they will be able to take their results.” the Dean said while responding to claims of some of the students.