With a mission to offer training in skills and knowledge in science, technology, and the arts for the use of the brain, mind, and hands, for promoting self-reliance, technological advancement, and sustainable national development, Auchi Polytechnic, a federal government-owned tertiary institution in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, has become a household name as far as quality tertiary education is concerned. Founded in 1963, initially, as a technical college and later in 1973 as a Polytechnic, the extant law establishing it assigns to the institution the task of producing well-trained and highly skilled middle-level manpower for the national economy in the areas of Engineering Technology, Science Environmental studies, Management studies and Art & Design. A mandate that has been adequately delivered as evidenced in its products who are excelling in their various field of life both within and outside the country.
In a bid to maintain its first-row status amongst proactive polytechnics in Nigeria, Auchi Polytechnic is reviewing and updating its curricula to meet current national and global challenges. This is to enrich the curricula and re-orientate students to be self-employed and create jobs upon graduation. Already, entrepreneurial courses have been introduced in most programmes offered in the institution, so as to ensure that their products are well-grounded.
Auchi Polytechnic boasts state-of-the-art facilities, such as a well-equipped ICT centre, standard workshops, an e-learning centre of international standard, well-equipped laboratories, library, studios and a conducive campus; by extension, improve students’ learning experiences and academic performance.
On its recognition as one of the Nigerian polytechnics with global excellence, the rector, Dr. Salisu Shehu Umar, who is an embodiment of service and resourcefulness, an exceptional academic whose leadership style has not only had a positive impact on the students and staff, but also the host community who see themselves as part of the institution. He said at Auchi Polytechnic, they strive to achieve excellence in all areas of their operations and they won’t rest on their oars to achieve even greater feats.
He therefore thanked the entire workforce of the polytechnic for their passion and dedication towards achieving excellence, in line with the mandate upon which the polytechnic was founded. “I am inspired by the passion and dedication of our staff and students who work tirelessly to achieve excellence in education and research. Your hard work and commitment do not go unnoticed, and I am grateful for the privilege to serve alongside such talented individuals.”
He reiterated that Auchi Polytechnic is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, research, and developing leaders in many disciplines that makes a difference globally. He also assures admission seekers that when they come to Auchi Polytechnic, they would gain more than just a qualification, but also acquire great skills which they will keep for life.
Dr. Salisu Shehu Umar attended the Government Secondary School, Gumi; Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, between 1987 and 1993 where he obtained the National Diploma and the Higher National Diploma in Statistics; the University of Ibadan from 1997 and 1998 where he bagged the Post Graduate Diploma in Statistics. In 2002, he obtained the Master’s degree (M.Sc.) in Statistics from the University of Ibadan and a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in Statistics from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, in 2018.
He started his academic sojourn with the Auchi Polytechnic in 1994 as a Youth Corps Member and rose steadily to become a Chief Lecturer. He later joined the Services of Kaduna Polytechnic as a Chief Lecturer in 2019 a position he held until he was appointed the Rector of Auchi Polytechnic in February 2022.
Upon his resumption in office, Umar swung into action and is leaving no stone unturned in transforming the polytechnic and upgrading its facilities and infrastructure to what obtains outside the country. He also brought his administrative prowess to bear in bringing about harmony within the campus without compromising discipline.
Dr. Umar has laid a solid foundation of achievements for Auchi Polytechnic such as the mounting of twenty-two new departments, establishment of a microfinance bank, Centre for Innovation and Skill Acquisition (CISA), entrepreneurship collaborations, and partnerships programmes with foreign bodies like Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), commencement of housing projects for staff, complete overhaul and upgrade of sporting facilities, institutionalizing vaccination for all staff against deadly infections and a number of innovations.
He has to his credit over 40 international publications, 50 national publications and several scholarly books. Dr. Umar has travelled to so many countries for workshops and conferences including; the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi for International workshop, Accra, Ghana and Port-Novo in Benin Republic for Conferences, University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom for conference, as well training workshops in the Management Development Institute (MDIS) in Singapore, to mention but a few.
