The Rector of Benue Polyetchnic, Ogbokolo, Mr. Pius Ojobor, has warned the academic staff of the institution to steer clear of cult activities or any act that might indirectly link them with cult activities in the polytechnic.
Mr. Ojobor, who handed down the warning while speaking to Daily Trust in his office Tuesday, said the management of the institution will soon set up a security monitoring team to fish out all staff of the polytechnic that are involved in aiding cultism within the campuses."
Describing the activities in the campus as unfortunate, the Rector disclosed that students use the cult activities to cover up their academic non-performance, having been admitted into the school "with good, but questionable G.C.E. results."
Mr. Ojobor attributed the non-participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) of over 437 graduates in year 2000 and 2001 service year due to persistent strikes by academic staff of the institution and urged stakeholders to "have a re-think as posterity would not forgive those who deny the leaders of tomorrow the right to sound education."
Commending the state government for approving N24 million for staff worker salaries and renovation of the school, the Rector added that the state government was liasing with academic staff union of the institutions to call off the strike "as education remains the viable industry in the state."
Mr. Ojobor also appealed to the state government for more assistance to the institution, as the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has threatened to close down the polytechnic, if the 22 courses recommended for engineering department were not accredited before the end of the year.
Daily Trust learnt that currently, only two courses have met the NBTE's accreditations requirement.