Makoji Stephen appointed Rector of FedPoly Ugep

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Makoji Stephen as the new Rector of Federal Polytechnic Ugep in Cross River State.

The appointment, effective March 17, 2026, will run for a single five-year tenure under the Polytechnic Act 2019 (as amended).

Dr. Stephen, a seasoned administrator, previously served as Chief Lecturer in the Department of Public Administration at the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, and as an Adjunct Faculty member in the Department of Public Policy and Administration at Miva Open University, Nigeria.

The Federal Government said the appointment underscores its commitment to merit-based leadership in the nation’s tertiary education sector.

Dr. Makoji, an accomplished scholar with extensive local and international academic exposure, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration with Second Class Upper Division from Ahmadu Bello University, earned in 1998.

He subsequently obtained a Master of Science in Public Administration from Benue State University.

He also earned a Master of Science in Human Resource Management in 2009 from the University of Salford, United Kingdom.

In 2016, he completed a Ph.D. in Business and Management with specialisation in Human Resource Management at the University of Salford Business School as a Tertiary Education Trust Fund scholar.

He has also taught extensively at several universities in the United Kingdom and served as a Visiting Researcher in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States.

Beyond his degrees, Stephen’s academic journey reflects international recognition and research excellence.

In 2011, he served as a fully funded visiting researcher at Southern University’s International Centre for Information Technology and Development in the United States.

Two years later, he received a Graduate Scholar Award at the Conference on Knowledge, Culture and Change Management hosted by the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, in recognition of significant scholastic achievement and leadership.

He is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, United States; the Nigerian Institute of Training and Development; and the Manchester Industrial Relations Society, United Kingdom.

Education stakeholders say his blend of administrative expertise, human capital development knowledge, and international research exposure positions him to strengthen institutional governance, academic standards, and industry relevance at Federal Polytechnic Ugep.

Observers note that the appointment aligns with the Tinubu administration’s broader agenda to elevate competence and global competitiveness within Nigeria’s higher education system.

As Federal Polytechnic Ugep turns a new page, expectations are high that its vision and experience will stabilize the institution and transform it into a model of merit, research relevance, and administrative efficiency in Nigeria’s polytechnic education landscape.

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