A Prophet Deserving Honour At Home: Professor Onohaebi
Giant strides at the National Institute of Construction Technology & Management, Uromi. I hardly dedicate my interventional essays to any individual. I have always found more joy and meaning in discussing issues rather than individuals. Issues that shape our development for good or for ill. By so doing, I try to throw light on what, in humble view, are the paths that when taken would lead to the peace, unity, progress, and prosperity that we seek for our communities and the Nigerian nation at large.
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This time, I found someone in whom all the positive elements came to the fore in a mix that has impacted positively the present and indeed, shaped the future in the educational sector. I just could not resist sharing this finding with a wider audience.
Why am I doing this? To show what is still possible in an environment where despair is rife and lack of integrity, foresight, and the grit to run the gauntlet when buffeted on all sides by hawks holds sway.
To beam a searchlight on a young Professor who has chosen the thorny and narrow path to deliver on his mandate and leave a worthy legacy that can change lives and inspire others after him to strive for excellence.
To show that a thinking leadership can get water out of stone and turn a forest into a blossoming campus where the knowledge and skills required for a future that is technology-driven can be acquired by our youth. And finally, to demonstrate that we still have altruistic public officials for whom integrity and selflessness are virtues in spite of the preponderance of vices that stare us in the face.
Meet Professor Sunday Ohousi Onohaebi – a professor of Engineering specializing in Electrical Power Systems. He was Dean of Engineering at the University of Benin when he was appointed Rector of the National Institute of Construction Technology, Uromi, by President Goodluck Jonathan on 26th July 2014. He left his well-appointed office of Dean in a first-generation University to become the Rector of a campus-less pronouncement – in a manner of speaking.
He was delighted when the late Chief Tony Anenih in whose honor the Institute was established, gave his sprawling NOVA HOTEL pro bono, to be used as the temporary campus. The respected Chief has always done such deeds – he gave his first house at Afuda Road to Lumen Christi International High School to use as a student hostel when that award-winning institution was founded by Bishop Ekpu decades ago.
It is to the credit of this young Professor that within a year of the establishment of the Institute, it was given interim accreditation to run National Diploma programs in Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technology, Architectural Technology, Building Technology, and Quantity Surveying! This feat earned the Rector a Letter of Commendation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Academic programs commenced in September 2015. On July 16, 2022, in a period of just eight years, it has fourteen accredited National diplomas and two Higher National Diploma courses and held its maiden combined convocation.
The convocation activities which spanned six days in all was colourful and a celebration of excellence. Highlights included
- 1st Professor Onohaebi’s Lecture Series
- Unveiling of the book “The Burden of Leadership: My Story” by Engr Prof. Sunday Onohaebi.
- Convocation Lecture titled “The Future of Infrastructural Development in Nigeria” delivered by the former Works Minister who was also instrumental to the technological bent of the institute’s programs – Architect Dr. Mike Ononlememen MON.
- Commissioning of numerous projects.
- Convocation ceremony and award of prizes.
Of the above, the most impressive was the array of projects that were commissioned. The permanent site was impressive to all visitors, especially the first-time visitors whose mouths were left agape at the sheer development strides on the campus located on the Uromi-Ugboha road just beside Amedokhian Secondary School.
The sprawling piece of 1.7 x 1.7 km land donated by the Ojuromi of Uromi, with undulating hills and greens adds beauty to the campus. So does the color scheme of the institute buildings and roofs which combine with the environment to provide an alluring ambiance for learning and research.
The projects, with thoughtful labels that indicate gratitude to the source of funding, demonstrated what a focused leadership can achieve especially with the careful deployment of funds in a verifiable manner and value-for-money orientation.
The story was told of a two hundred-million-naira fund that some staff wanted to be directed towards the purchase of SUVs but the Rector and one altruistic supporter insisted it is deployed to a key project. This project was under construction at the time of the convocation.
The most impressive, and to me, most praise-worthy of the projects was the expansive sports complex with completed basketball, volleyball, and lawn tennis courts aesthetically fenced and a football field with a terraced pavilion that seats 500. The Rector informed us that this was all built with, wait for it, internally generated revenue! IGR that most such institutions and government MDAs swallow into their greed vaults. This Professor deserves a National Award!
He has not only managed to innovatively utilize TETFUND, CBN, and other sources to erect giant structures in the institute, but he has also channeled personal efforts into schemes like consultancy that has yielded and will continue to accrue financial benefits for the development of that institution.
Many others in his shoes corner such opportunities for themselves thereby pauperizing the institutions they lead. It is no wonder the National Institute of Construction Technology & Management is today head and shoulders above its peers established at the same time.
The job of the incoming Rector, in the words of Mr. Matthias Dafur – the Chairman of the Governing Council – is to increase the student population to utilize the infrastructural facilities from the current level of about 30 percent.
Professor Onohaebi’s human capacity development in the institute is unparalleled. While he has not gone on any international courses and seminars himself throughout his tenure, he has always sent his academic and non-academic staff on such courses. Several lecturers are on scholarship abroad on PhD and Masters Degree programs and several are in Nigerian Universities for the same purpose.
50% of the staff were given 2 days leverage per week to undergo higher training to advance their careers while 38 were trained on International Certification on Digital Literacy. These efforts will definitely impact the academic output of the Polytechnic and the careers of the beneficiaries in the long run.
Professor Onohaebi, who is on leave of absence from the University of Benin, has done himself proud. So has he done the University of Benin, of which I am an Alumnus. As his tenure expires on 25th July 2022 after eight years of impressive leadership with integrity, I dare say this Professor is a prophet with honor at home. He is a native of Ukoni, a neighbor to the Amedokhian community which he gave an award at the convocation ceremony for being a good host.
The Ojuromi should be justifiably proud of his exploits for putting the NICTM in a prominent place on Nigeria’s academic map. A suitable Chieftaincy Title and a National Honor would be the least to let citizens know that integrity and credible performance is still a worthy cause in our country.
Lagos. 22nd July 2022 – Austin Isikhuemen
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