Akwapoly Alumni Association Gets 7-Man Caretaker Committee

By Timothy Ekpo
IKOT EKPENE
A seven-member caretaker committee has been inaugurated to pilot the affairs of the Akwa Ibom Polytechnic Alumni Association (AK-PALA).
It has Dr Godwin Benson, a seasoned journalist and Group News Editor of Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation (AKNC) publishers of The Pioneer Group of Newspapers as chairman.
Benson, a 1991 pioneer set of Mass Communication Department, one-time secretary of Ukanafun Local Government Area, is to lead the committee for six months according to the chairman of the Board of Incorporated Trustees (BOIT)  AkwaPoly Alumni Association, Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene, Comrade Nse Bassey.
Other members of the committee are: Comrade David Friday, vice chairman; Comrade Edidiong Akpan, secretary; Comrade Eno Effanga, treasurer; Comrade Veronica Ukpe, financial secretary; Comrade Joy Essiet, assistant secretary and Comrade Patrick Arhelo, public relations officer, PRO.
They were sworn-in by Sammy Etuk Esq at the ASUP Hall, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua.
The BOIT chairman, Bassey, thanked God for the success of the outgone chairman, Comrade Joseph Esu led-administration which according to him started in 2014 and ended another three-year tenure, November 17, 2024.
He said that, on expiration of the tenure, it was pertinent for the BOIT to evoke its powers and appoint a caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of the association, pending when a democratically- elected government would be installed.
Bassey commended the rector of the polytechnic, Dr Moses Umobong, for making Akwapoly second most sought after polytechnics in the country.
The commissioner for oath administered the oath of office for the chairman of the caretaker committee, who, in turn performed the oath of office for the rest of the committee members.
He charged the members to be serious about the assignment given to them and later presented them to the house.
The chairman, BOIT, presented appointment letters to all the committee members  and spelt out the term of reference to include: serve as interim management committee for a period of six months; plan and execute the national convention (Congress) and NEC elections; carry out any other functions as may be assigned by the BOIT.”
He charged the committee members to be diligent and transparent in the discharge of their duties as well as show loyalty to the BOIT and the association.
The caretaker chairman, Benson, on behalf of the members, appreciated the BOIT and other stakeholders for the confidence reposed on them to pilot the affairs of the association.
He lauded the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D, the rector of the polytechnic, Umobong, for the recent accreditation of new programmes, the massive physical development and promised the readiness of the alumni to team up with them for the continuous growth of the institution.
Three chapters presented goodwill messages, namely Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Port Harcourt and the dean, School of Engineering of the polytechnic, Mr Nsikak Affia, a pioneer Students Union President (SUG) of the institution.
Those who witnessed the inauguration were the BOIT members: Emmanuel Ibanga, Ernest Udo, Uduak Ita, Imo Etokakpan; the immediate-past national executive council member, Emmanuel Johnson; Akwapoly branch chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnic (SSANIP) Archibong Uyai; SSANIP trustee and chief of staff to the rector, Akparawa Ifiok Okon, the immediate-past president of Uyo Chapter, Ifiok Ekanem.