NEWS
Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, Immortalises Former Acting Rector, Engr. Mrs. Chidinma Ndukwe, Names Auditorium After Her
The Management of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, has honoured its immediate past Acting Rector, Engr. Mrs. Chidinma Martha Ndukwe, with a lasting legacy, naming the institution’s newly retrofitted auditorium after her in recognition of her outstanding service and contributions to the development of the Polytechnic.
The honour was announced during a retirement reception organised in her honour following the institution’s monthly Academic Board meeting. The event brought together members of the Polytechnic community, who celebrated Ndukwe’s years of dedicated service and contributions to the growth and stability of the institution.
As part of the retirement celebration, the Polytechnic presented the former Acting Rector with cash gifts, office equipment and goodwill messages from various departments, schools, professional bodies and staff groups. Management also announced a ₦2 million retirement gift in recognition of her service.
Speaking at the event, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Engr. Dr. Christopher Okoro Kalu, said the decision to name the newly retrofitted auditorium after Ndukwe was a reflection of the institution’s appreciation for her leadership and the role she played in ensuring a seamless transition when he assumed office in March 2024.
According to him, Ndukwe’s cooperation during the transition demonstrated a strong commitment to the stability and progress of the institution. He noted that she ensured that all relevant documents and administrative information were made available to the new administration, thereby preventing any leadership vacuum.
“For one day, she did not withhold any information from me,“ the Rector said, adding that the cordial working relationship between them remains a worthy example of institutional teamwork and cooperation.
Dr. Kalu stressed that sustainable institutional development could not be achieved through individual efforts alone, maintaining that the successes recorded under the present administration had been made possible by the collective contributions of staff and stakeholders across the Polytechnic.
Beyond the naming of the auditorium, Management presented Ndukwe with a complete set of office equipment to support her activities in retirement. Staff members, academic units and professional organisations within the institution also made separate financial presentations in appreciation of her years of service.
Several groups used the occasion to pay glowing tributes to the retired Acting Rector. They included the Student Affairs Division, the outgoing Students’ Union Government, the School of Science and Industrial Technology (SSIT), the School of Mass Communication, Media and Legal Studies (SMCM&LS), the School of Engineering Technology (SET), the School of Environmental Design and Technology (SEDT), the School of Management and Business Technology (SMBT), the General Studies Department (GNS), the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Chief Lecturers, Item Representatives, the Polytechnic Fellowship (Chapel of Mercy) and members of Management.
The various groups acknowledged Ndukwe’s dedication, professionalism and contributions to the institution during her years of service, describing her tenure as one that left a significant mark on the Polytechnic community.
The event also attracted the Chief Executive Officer of Shagas Group of Companies, Mr. Ugochukwu Shaga, and members of his delegation, who were on the Polytechnic campus ahead of the Shagas Cup final.
Responding to the honour, Ndukwe expressed appreciation to the Management, staff and students of the Polytechnic, saying she had not anticipated that her retirement would be marked with such an elaborate celebration.
She recalled that she had once prayed for God to raise a Rector who would attract greater government attention and support to the Polytechnic.
According to her, she believes that the institution has continued to receive increased government attention under the leadership of Engr. Dr. Christopher Okoro Kalu.
“What I said casually has left me in awe. I never expected the Polytechnic to honour me in this manner. My name will remain part of this institution because you all made it possible,“ she said.
Engr. Ndukwe was appointed Acting Rector of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic on June 5, 2023, making history as the first woman to head the institution. She served in that capacity until March 18, 2024, when Engr. Dr. Christopher Okoro Kalu was appointed substantive Rector.
With the naming of the newly retrofitted auditorium in her honour, the Polytechnic has formally etched Ndukwe’s name into its institutional history, creating a permanent reminder of her tenure and contributions to the d
evelopment of the institution.