The Pan-Africanist Movement will continue to remain a convergence point for excellence in scholarship and pursuit of youthful aspiration, says the acting Rector of the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny, Mrs. Ibifiri Pollyn.
Mrs. Pollyn said this today when a delegation of the African Student Union Parliament (ASUP) led by its Speaker, Rt. Hon. Kewul Mensah visited her in her office and also conferred on her the Pan African Leadership Award for her invaluable contributions to the promotion of African scholarship, intellectual empowerment of African students and value addition to African society.
She announced that her dream of promoting African ideals and scholarship has been fulfilled with the recognition she has received, noting that her motivation to do more to advance the concept of Pan-Africanism has been spurred by the recognition.
“My dream indeed has come to pass. Just like Martin Luther, I have a dream for Africa. I was quietly working on that dream. With this award I have come to know that indeed the earth has ears.”
“I want to say that this will actually strengthen me to make sure that all of these acronyms, and in fact, the OCEAN BRAINS project is actualized. Every one of us should pick up a project and passionately work together to achieve them,”
“At the end of the day, we shall be producing our cars, we shall be producing our astronauts, we shall be producing our pilots, we shall be producing our motors to run cars and others.”
She called on African Students Union Parliament (ASUP) to synergize with relevant stakeholders to scale up the fight against drug abuse, cultism and other social vices, reiterating her passion for the development of African students, especially, those from Nigeria.
“This thing has to be done from the home to the schools and to the society why our children are dabbling into drug abuse, cultism and others is because of the disarray from the home to the schools. I have been a vanguard of decent and healthy living.”
“I encourage you not to stop here. Identify all Africans who have passion for Africa. I really have passion for Nigeria, I really have passion for Africa. I am from Africa and I cannot deny Africa. In fact, I have written a pamphlet which I said I am proudly a Nigerian, no regrets. Therefore, let’s be proud and dedicated in whatever we are doing. One day, it shall be made known to the world.”
Earlier, the Speaker of the African Student Union Parliament (ASUP), Rt. Hon. Kewul Mensah had predicated on the decision to confer the Pan-African Leadership Award on Mrs. Ibifiri Pollyn, whom he described as “a woman of honour, an intellectual juggernaut; a woman with experience when it comes to qualitative education, a seasoned public servant”, on the positive appraisal of her performance as an academician and promoter of Pan-African ideals.
“On behalf of students from the 54 registered member countries of the African Student Union Parliament. I want to welcome everyone of you to this occasion of conferring honour to a woman of honour, an intellectual juggernaut; a woman with experience when it comes to qualitative education, a seasoned public servant…”
“We’re talking about the remarkable, the reliable and unbeatable Mrs. Ibifiri Pollyn. She is s rare gem, an administrative icon, an outstanding public servant of impeccable credentials.”
Also speaking, the Deputy Registrar, Benjamin Dike, and the Librarian, Albert Elegene, acknowledged the rightness of the choice for the Pan-African Leadership Award, enumerating the sterling qualities of the recipient, while thanking the African Students Union Parliament (ASUP) for the recognition and conferment of award.
The Dean of Student Affairs (DSA), Christopher Inakuma commended the efforts of ASUP in promoting the Africanist movement, noting that fashioning out programmes such as the campaign against hard drugs and other social vices would sustain students’ interest in academics, commending ASUP for using the Pan-African Leadership Award as a catalyst for rekindling the spirit of Pan-Africanism movement.
Majority Leader of ASUP, Hon. Kwasi Faustin expressed his delight over the conferment of the award, noting that the awardee was a well-deserved recipient given her exceptional antecedents, assuring that ASUP under its current leadership would continue to promote African ideals.
On his part, ASUP Director of Programmes, Temple Ozim explained that the motivation for the award was etched on the invaluable contributions of Mrs. Ibifiri Pollyn in the advancement of Africanist ideals, students’ welfare and progress and development of African society through her academic work, leadership qualities and social impact, stressing that she remains a model for emulation by African scholars.
Speaking on behalf of the students, the Secretary of the Student Caretaker Committee (SCC) of the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas (FPOG), Bonny, Chinedum Ubamdire commended the African Students Parliament (ASUP) for capturing the institution in its plans, saying that ongoing sensitization programme on drug abuse and other social vices was a noble initiative, appealing that it should be extended to the Polytechnic.
“The sensitization programme, which is valid and also going on in Nigeria is a good one. We believe it will be extended to our polytechnic here and we are expecting more from the African Students Parliament.”
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards to the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas (FPOG), Bonny, Mrs. Ibifiri Pollyn, and the FPOG Management by Rt. Hon. Kewul Mensah, Hon. Kwasi Faustin, and Hon. Francis Otongo.
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