ABOUT FPI

INTRODUCTION TO THE SCHOOL

The Federal Polytechnic, Idah is one of the seven Polytechnics establishment by the Federal Military Government under decree No. 33 of July, 1977. The Decree spells out the functions of the Polytechnic as follows:
i. To provide full-time or part-time courses of instruction and training in Technology, Applied Sciences, Commerce and Management and in such other fields of applied learning relevant to the needs of the development of Nigeria in the areas of industrial and agricultural production and distribution and for research in the development and adaptation of techniques as the council may from time to time determine
ii. To arrange Conferences, Seminars, and Study groups relative to the fields of learning specified above and
iii. To perform such other functions as in the opinion of the Council may serve to promote the objectives of the Polytechnic.

On Monday, 28th November, 1977, the Institution came to life with eleven Academic Staff, nineteen Senior Administrative Staff, eighty-six supporting Staff as well as 220 pioneer students who were offered admission after a competitive entrance examination. The students started at a temporary site located in the main Idah town. The polytechnic community began to grow almost immediately. Staff strength increased and, within a year, Engineering students were taking part in construction work at the temporary site. His Royal Majesty, the Ata Igala Agabaidu, Dr. Aliyu O. Obaje CBE, CON whose benevolence is unmatched stopped at nothing to encourage the pioneer staff and students who persevered under difficult conditions, as Idah at the time, had little infrastructure to support the existence of an institution of higher learning.

The development of the Institution was based on a master plan drawn up by Federal Ministry of Education in 1977. Under this, a total land area of about 1,230 hectares spanning parts of Uwowo, Ogbogbo and Okenya villages was acquired. Contracts for the phase one development was awarded by the Presidential-in-Council in May 1980 but actual work for the construction of the main buildings, laboratories and workshops for Electrical, Metallurgy and Mechanical Engineering Departments started in 1981. With the movement of the School of Engineering from the temporary site to the permanent site in September, 1986, the Institution is now operating with 100% of its Academic Department at the permanent site. Presently, the Federal Polytechnic, Idah offers programmes at the National Diploma (ND), the Higher National Diploma (HND) and Certificate levels. Students will take prescribed courses in various disciplines for four semesters and also undertake four months practical training under the supervised industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) where applicable. On passing the prescribed examinations and successfully completing the programme, such students will be awarded the appropriate diploma. Students for Certificate programmes will be awarded appropriate certificate on successful completion of the courses and passing examinations thereto.


THE ADMINISTRATION

The Polytechnic consists of two sectors- the Administrative and the Academic sectors. The Rector is the head of both Administrative and Academic sectors and he is the Chief Accounting Officer of the Polytechnic. He is responsible to the Governing Council. To assist the Rector in day-to-day administration of the polytechnic are the Registrar, the Bursar who administers the polytechnic finances and the Director of works who runs works and estate department. Other service units include the medical centre headed by the Director of medical services.
The Academic organisation of the Polytechnic is into Schools. There are now 18 departments organised into four schools headed by a Dean, namely: School of Technology, School of Engineering, School of Business Studies and School of Environmental Studies.