The Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies (NAITES) in Biu, Borno, on Saturday matriculated 1,517 students for the 2017/2018 academic session, with a warning that the institution had zero tolerance for cultism.
“Let me clearly state that NAITES has zero tolerance for cultism, stealing and any form of hooliganism.” said Maj-Gen. E.G.Ode, Rector of the institute, in his speech at the occasion.
He said that the mission of the institution was to ensure that students admitted achieved not only academic excellence, but also moral uprightness.
According to him, NAITES is an institution that is evolving, having withered the storm and transformed from Monotechnic to a Polytechnic, and may soon transform to Nigerian Army University.
“It is expected that when the University finally kicks-off, NAITES would remain and serve as feeder to the new University,” he said.
The Rector said presently, NAITES had 21 academic programmes that were stream-lined into five schools, out of which those that were matured for accreditation were fully accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Ode said the institution was liaising with appropriate authorities to ensure that other programmes were also accredited by the NBTE.
In his speech, Maj-Gen M.A. Efeovebokhan (Rtd), Chairman, Governing Council, said considering the quality of training the students would acquire, they would take the country to greater heights.
In his speech,Gov. Kashim Shetima of Borno, said state government was ready to partner with the institution to achieve the dream of transforming to a university.
Represented by Malam Umar Kadafur, Chairman of Biu Local Government Council, he urged the students to work hard.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, represented by Maj.-Gen L.O. Adeosun, Corps Commander, Infantry, presided over the matriculation ceremony.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the students matriculated were to study National and Higher National Diploma courses in Schools of Management and Social Science, Environmental Studies, Engineering and Applied and Natural Science. (NAN)