RECTOR INSPIRES STUDENTS WITH LEADERSHIP TIPS, RECEIVES EXCELLENCE AWARD AT EPSA MAIDEN SUMMIT

The maiden leadership summit of the Evening Programme Students’ Association (EPSA) of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede was last Friday at the 1000-capacity electrified as the Rector, Engr. Dr. M.C. Arimanwa FNSE, JP, delivered a powerful leadership lecture to the students.

The Rector in a keynote address at the occasion emphasized the pivotal position of leadership in human existence. The cerebral academic defined leadership as the ability to influence people.

According to the Rector noted for transformational leadership, “If you are not influencing others positively while in a position of authority, then you are not leading. The ideal type of leadership is transformational leadership which is opposed to transactional leadership. Transformational leadership brings about a paradigm shift in the system.

“If you want to be an emerging leader, you must go beyond what you are taught in class. Today’s work dynamics demand that you acquire a skill. Technology has brought about new trends in the world of work. If you do not key into digital skills or allied skills, no one will find you worthy of being hired.

“Statistics has shown that there are over fifty million jobs globally which have not been taken, out of which a greater percentage exists in Africa. These jobs can only be taken by people with requisite hands-on skills. They may not be jobs which necessarily require paper certificates hence you must strive to acquire skills. “Nobody teaches you everything in school. What we do for you here is to lay a foundation for you which serves as a springboard to launch you out. You may therefore need to be skillful enough to make yourself relevant in the world of work.

“Jobs are available! But you may need to access them with additional skills that the world of work requires. If you do not obtain the extra skills, you might be left behind. Suffice it to add those who seek work by pulling strings have no skills. As a matter of fact, those with skills do not cut corners when looking for work. People who are not skillful in what they do are endangered. Elon Musk for instance acquired Twitter and sacked over ten thousand personnel who were essentially unskilled. But the skilled ones were spared because nobody messes with people who are skilled.

“Listen, the world of work is like a pyramid. The lower part of the pyramid is always overcrowded. The top needs you because the top is largely unoccupied. You therefore need to emancipate yourself with more skills to make yourself relevant.”

Earlier in an address, the Director of Evening Programme, Dr. Ego Obi-Okogbo, had expressed delight at the presence of the Rector, describing him as “amiable, astute, charismatic and smart Rector.” She stated that the programme was designed to equip students to be future leaders of note.The high point of the summit was the decoration of the Rector as the Grand Patron of EPSA for his excellent and inspiring leadership.

In his response, the Rector thanked the students for finding him worthy of the award, stating that he had received over 130 of such awards since his assumption as Rector of the institution. In appreciation, he promised a gift of N100,000 each for the best graduating student (HND) and the best graduating female student (HND) of EPSA in this session.

Some Principal Officers who also received awards from the students included the Deputy Rector (Academic), Dr. C.C. Onyenonu, Registrar, Mrs. E.C. Anuna, Bursar, Mr. V.N Anyanwuocha and the Librarian, Dr. Christian Enyia.

© FEDPONEK GAZETTE