His refusal to compromise on standards, his insistence on accountability, and his focus on development have delivered tangible results. The smear campaign, poorly disguised as journalism, is not a reflection of any truth on the ground. It is a final, frustrated attempt to discredit a legacy that is already secured by the facts
By Chidipeters Okorie
In recent weeks, a troubling article titled “Unseen Toll of Exploitation at Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi Uku” surfaced with a series of sweeping allegations against the institution’s administration.
The piece painted a grim picture of academic fraud, extortion, and administrative negligence, primarily targeting the Polytechnic’s Rector, Professor Emmanuel Achuenu. The article claims that students are being coerced into paying exorbitant sums, ranging from ₦30,000 per course to ₦150,000 for final year projects, simply to pass. However, the story is not backed by any documented complaint, evidence, or verifiable testimony. The sources are anonymous individuals referred to only as “Awele, Dave, and Ejiroghene,” with no supporting documentation, dates, or traceable incidents to validate the claims.
Upon close examination, the article fails to meet even the most basic standard of investigative journalism. It contains no records, no concrete data, and no corroborated evidence. What it does present, however, is a pattern of deflection and anonymous hearsay. The absence of proof raises serious questions about the motive behind the publication, especially considering the known history of opposition to Professor Achuenu’s administration by a small group of vested interests who have repeatedly failed to derail his reforms through internal mechanisms.
Since assuming office in July 2021 as the fifth substantive Rector of the Polytechnic, Professor Achuenu has pursued a consistent and measurable agenda of reform. A trained academic with a Ph.D. in Construction Management from the University of Jos, Achuenu brought with him a scholarly discipline rooted in transparency, professional rigor, and institutional development. His early academic credentials include a first-class degree and a distinction at the master’s level, also from the University of Jos. His reputation in academic circles is long-established and built on merit.
From the outset, he promised to stabilize a campus that had been fragmented by years of unrest and mismanagement. Within his first year, institutional peace was restored. Faculty unions and management realigned around a renewed spirit of cooperation. This is not anecdotal; it is observable in the lack of strikes, the return to uninterrupted academic calendars, and the restoration of internal confidence.
What followed was a record of achievements grounded in measurable outcomes. The Polytechnic under his leadership secured full accreditation for all academic programmes from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). In addition to this, Achuenu’s administration introduced the “One Certificate, Two Skills” initiative, ensuring that graduates are not only awarded their primary diploma or degree but are also equipped with additional professional skills aimed at making them more competitive in the labor market.
Infrastructure development has also marked Achuenu’s tenure. Perhaps the most symbolic is the construction of a new 325-seat lecture hall powered entirely by solar energy. Funded internally and completed without controversy, the project represents a commitment to sustainable development, fiscal discipline, and long-term planning. Night lighting on the campus is now a reality for the first time in the institution’s history, enabled by solar-powered streetlights. The increased visibility has enhanced security and encouraged evening academic activity.
Additionally, recreational facilities including a basketball court and a lawn tennis court have been completed, contributing to a more holistic student experience. In a system often criticized for ignoring student welfare beyond the classroom, these projects are notable departures from the norm.
The Polytechnic has made significant investments in digital literacy and technological advancement. A Microsoft Certification Centre has been established, along with a new ICT school offering a wide range of computer-based and digital skills training. Students now have access to internationally recognized certifications, helping them to compete in both domestic and global employment markets. Similarly, a Renewable Energy Training Centre has been developed, which offers technical and vocational education in solar and other alternative energy technologies.
In terms of capital projects, the institution is currently executing a number of major developments including an Environmental Science Complex, a modern Library Complex, a Multipurpose Theatre, and a SMART City integration project. The perimeter fencing of the school has also been prioritized to enhance security. These projects are funded through a combination of TETFund interventions, state government support, and internally generated revenue.
One of the most underreported aspects of Professor Achuenu’s administration is the strategic focus on human capital development. Since 2021, forty-nine staff members—across academic and non-academic units—have been sponsored to attend professional development workshops and training seminars. Many staff have been sponsored for postgraduate study under the TETFund program. In addition, fifty-four staff have attended training programmes funded internally by the Polytechnic’s revenue. Most remarkably, fifty academic staff members have completed their Ph.D. programmes during this period. This represents a significant elevation in the intellectual capacity of the institution and is unprecedented in its history.
These efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2022, the Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation ranked Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi Uku among the least corrupt public institutions in the country. As a result, the Polytechnic was inducted into the Integrity Icons of Nigeria Hall of Fame. The recognition did not come through lobbying or public relations campaigns; it followed an independent assessment by the organization.
In 2023, the Advocate for Good Governance in Nigeria awarded Professor Achuenu with the Quality Leadership Award. The citation commended his administrative prudence, policy clarity, and commitment to equity and access. These awards were followed in July 2024 by the Merit Award from the Niger Delta Youth Council, which noted his student-friendly policies, developmental achievements, and transparent use of resources.
In the same year, Professor Achuenu was appointed President of the Nigeria Polytechnic Games Association (NIPOGA). Under his leadership, Delta State Polytechnic participated in national games and returned with ten medals, including two gold, four silver, and four bronze—a performance that not only reflects athletic excellence but also indicates strong administrative coordination and student support.
Growth in academic programmes and student enrollment has been another area of strength. The Polytechnic now hosts 10000 students across seven academic schools and forty-two departments and more than 70 programmes. All seventy-four programmes offered by the institution have full accreditation from NBTE. This is a far cry from the Polytechnic’s humble beginnings in 2003, when it had only a few hundred students and a small cluster of departments.
With such verifiable progress in academics, infrastructure, staff development, student welfare, and public integrity, the allegations leveled in the recent article fall apart under scrutiny. There is no record of formal complaints from any department or student body. No petitions have been submitted to regulatory agencies, oversight bodies, or independent investigators. The purported victims in the article remain unnamed. No course titles are cited. No payments are traced. No staff are implicated. The article reads as a deliberately constructed narrative with no factual grounding.
Moreover, the timing and tone of the article raise significant questions. The resurgence of these accusations, coming just months after the Polytechnic received multiple national awards and as it prepares to complete several high-profile capital projects, suggests a coordinated effort to undermine the Rector and the institution’s growing reputation. It is not the first such attempt. Several earlier smear campaigns have also failed to gain traction, precisely because they lacked substance and credibility.
The motivations behind the attacks are clear to observers within and outside the institution. Some are the result of resistance from entrenched interests whose access to informal revenue streams was cut off when Professor Achuenu enforced stricter financial procedures. Others stem from individuals sidelined during internal audits or disciplinary processes. There are even political undertones, with certain actors perceiving the Rector’s increasing national recognition as a threat to their own ambitions. All have found in the media a willing partner to disseminate unproven claims under the guise of investigative reporting.
This strategy is not new. In the absence of facts, disinformation becomes a tool. When internal sabotage fails, the fallback plan is to go public, hoping that enough noise will substitute for evidence. But unlike previous eras where misinformation could flourish unchecked, the current digital and regulatory environment demands a higher burden of proof. Institutions are more transparent, and the public is more discerning.
In the case of Delta State Polytechnic, the evidence does not support the story of exploitation. What exists instead is a record of deliberate transformation, consistent policy implementation, and institutional discipline. That this should provoke hostility from certain quarters is unfortunate but not unexpected.
Professor Emmanuel Achuenu’s leadership has brought Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi Uku to a place of national relevance and local pride. His refusal to compromise on standards, his insistence on accountability, and his focus on development have delivered tangible results. The smear campaign, poorly disguised as journalism, is not a reflection of any truth on the ground. It is a final, frustrated attempt to discredit a legacy that is already secured by the facts.
Those looking for scandal will not find it here. What they will find is a campus being restored, a system being rebuilt, and a leader who chose service over silence. The real story of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi Uku is not one of decline, but of determined progress. The facts speak louder than anonymous fiction.
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