The Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic Aba,  Abia State, has announced plans to introduce Educational Technology (EdTech) courses in line with directives from the Abia State Ministry of Education.

The initiative seeks to equip students with competencies in digital tool integration, instructional design, and contemporary pedagogical practices to strengthen teaching and learning within the institution.

The Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Christopher Okoro Kalu, disclosed this while addressing members of the Academic Board at the Polytechnic Auditorium.

He said the institution has been positioned  to comply with the Ministry’s directive, assuring that all newly introduced courses would undergo proper accreditation before the planned relocation to the Osisioma campus.

“Before the relocation to Osisioma Campus, these courses must either be fully accredited or have completed the necessary resource verification processes,” he said.

Kalu further revealed that infrastructural development at the Osisioma campus is progressing.

He explained that the Ministry of Public Utilities has commenced work on water reticulation at the campus, with a projected completion timeline of one month and a durability span of up to 50 years.

The Rector added that the Ministry of Works is currently overseeing the construction of internal roads, covering both Phase One and Phase Two, while work has also begun on the administrative building, which is expected to be completed by September.

‎He also acknowledged the Abia State Government for the official handover of facilities previously constructed by Abia State University, Uturu.

‎Addressing concerns regarding the relocation, Kalu assured staff and students that their welfare remains a top priority.

‎In addition, he disclosed that modern equipment has been provided to support the establishment of an EYE Content Hub for students of Film and Multimedia Production.

‎The hub, to be located at the institution’s ICT building, is designed to enhance practical training and align students with current industry standards.

In a related development the polytechnic has strengthened its collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abia State Command, to curb drug abuse among students.

Kalu approved the partnership on Wednesday while receiving the NDLEA State Coordinator, CN Chigbu Odomelam Chilee, and his delegation at the institution’s Council Chamber.

Chilee raised concern over the rising incidence of substance abuse in the state, noting that young people are among the most affected.

The NDLEA official called for the introduction of drug education programmes, peer sensitisation initiatives, and campaigns promoting healthy lifestyles among students.

The Rector described drug abuse as a major threat to societal development, emphasising the need for sustained intervention.

“Nothing destroys a nation quicker than drug abuse. Aside from its impact on mental health, it also contributes to poverty,” he said.

Kalu approved the training of students in the dangers of drug abuse as part of the institution’s preventive strategy.

He disclosed that the training sessions would be held between May and June this year with another round scheduled for November, and stressed the importance of continuous sensitisation.

The Olabisi Onabanjo University’s (OOU) Students’ Union Government has accused officers of the Nigerian Police Force of assaulting their leaders and firing shots at unarmed students during a protest at the Oru-Ijebu Police Station in Ogun State.

The Ogun State Police Command had denied the allegations in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, late Saturday night, saying no student was detained following the reported confrontation at the Oru-Ijebu Police Division.

However, in a statement by the students’ union on Sunday, co-signed by the SUG President, Kehinde Bamigbose, and General Secretary, Olajire Emmanuel,  the incident began after reports emerged that some students had been arrested under “unclear and questionable” circumstances, prompting the SUG  Legal Director to visit the station to verify the situation.

“In a bid to ensure due process and protect the rights of our students, the OOUSUG Legal Director proceeded to the station to ascertain the situation and engage the officers in a lawful and civil manner.

“Shockingly, while carrying out his legitimate duty, our legal director was subjected to degrading treatment — he was physically assaulted, kicked, and violently manhandled, including being choked by officers of the Nigerian Police Force,” the statement partly read.

It added that another student present at the station was also assaulted, as they frowned at the unprofessional acts by the law enforcement agency.

“Even more disturbing, a student who accompanied him was slapped by officers during the encounter. These acts represent a gross violation of human dignity, professional ethics, and the rule of law,” the union said.

The statement further explained that the Students’ Union President, alongside other leaders, later arrived at the station in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.

“Upon receiving this disturbing update, the OOUSUG President, accompanied by other student leaders, arrived at the station to peacefully intervene and de-escalate the situation,” it said.

Detailing the aftermath, the union alleged that the police responded with force, claiming that several students were injured and arrested during the incident.

“Rather than engage constructively, the police officers resorted to reckless violence. Without justification, they opened fire on unarmed students.

“In the course of this unwarranted aggression, a student was shot on the hand; several students were brutalised and assaulted; multiple students were unlawfully arrested; panic and chaos were deliberately instigated through continuous gunfire,” it stated.

The union also alleged that bystanders were affected.

“Innocent bystanders and students were subjected to fear, intimidation, and physical harm,” it added.

Describing the incident as an abuse of power, the union said it would not tolerate intimidation or violence against students.

“We find it utterly unacceptable that officers entrusted with maintaining law and order would instead become agents of terror against the very citizens they are meant to protect,” it said.

The union issued a list of demands, including an immediate investigation, prosecution of officers involved, medical treatment and compensation for injured students, and the unconditional release of those allegedly detained.

The development comes amid conflicting accounts from both the police and the students over the circumstances surrounding the clash at the Oru-Ijebu division.

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Nearly 60 per cent of employers in Nigeria say graduates are not job-ready, underscoring a widening gap between academic training and industry expectations, a new report has revealed.

This comes as experts urged Nigerian undergraduates to boost their employability by acquiring soft skills and leveraging opportunities both within and beyond the classroom before graduation.

The advice was given on Thursday in Ikeja, Lagos, during the presentation of Proten International’s latest report on the gap between education and industry needs.

The report added that more than 55 per cent of Nigerian graduates work in roles unrelated to their field of study, as it highlighted critical gaps in communication, technical and digital skills.

“Findings reveal significant misalignment between academic training and the competencies demanded by modern workplaces, with 55 per cent of respondents working in fields unrelated to their academic background and nearly 60 per cent of employers reporting that graduates are inadequately prepared for their roles.

“Critical gaps exist in teamwork, communication, technical proficiency, and digital literacy, while soft skills and practical experience remain highly desired but underdeveloped,” the report read.

Speaking at the industry roundtable themed “Bridging the Skill Gap Between Education and Industry Needs in Nigeria,” the Managing Director of Proten International, Deborah Yemi-Oladayo, described the problem as multidimensional.

“It’s not one way. If you redesign the curriculum, it means you are improving it. Then you need to retrain the people who are going to train the students,” she said.

She questioned the level of investment in lecturer development, adding, “How many of our lecturers get enough training? If we’re expecting our lecturers to do much more for our students, we need to give them that level of training so that they will be able to transfer in the classroom.”

Yemi-Oladayo stressed that expecting improved outcomes without equipping educators is unrealistic.

“It’s not enough to expect lecturers to do magic. They can only give what they have,” she said.

The MD also advised students not to wait for systemic reforms before taking responsibility for their own development.

“I advise undergraduates to harness opportunities that are around the world. We have online platforms that deliver training for free,” she said, urging them to focus on self-development beyond social media.

She added that students must be intentional about their growth. “They (the students) have a part to play. Nobody will do it for them,” she said.

Also speaking, the founder of Treford Africa, a non-engineering skill partner for professionals and businesses, Harry Enabolo, emphasised the importance of practical experience in preparing for employment.

“Experience prepares you for a job faster than almost anything you learn. The best learning still happens on the job,” he said.

Enabolo encouraged students to seek internships and engage with startups, noting that applying knowledge in real-life situations accelerates learning.

“One of the best ways of learning is to take all the knowledge you have gained and apply it to something,” he said, adding that early exposure to work environments helps students transition more easily into the labour market.

He further called for a more flexible education system that allows students to combine academic work with practical experience without affecting their performance.

The representatives from government, the private sector, and academia attended the roundtable.