It is a fact that the Academic Planning Directorate of any institution of higher learning is the beehive of academic activities of those institutions.
This is because it provides a range of management and Statistical Information, research and Planning support to facilitate informed decision makings, Planning and Policy formulation, and the overall strategic development of any institution and Kano State Polytechnic is not an exception.
The role of the Directorate is to provide timely and accurate information of the polytechnic for planning and managerial decision making, administer key Polytechnic Investigative research into areas of needs, Coordinate Compliance reporting activities and guide the management in decision-making.
The Kano State Polytechnic’s Directorate of Academic Planning, like every other Academic Planning section of other institutions, makes it possible to have a uniform academic direction and purpose for the development of academic excellence.
By and large, the directorate liaises with the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) on behalf of the polytechnic and relates closely with bodies like Academic Board, Schools and Departments. It also communicates any new information on academic policy matters as dictated by NBTE as feedback to these bodies.
It is obvious that its functions are numerous which also include the preparation of academic calendar of events for the polytechnic academic programs, preparation of statistical digests for student admission quota, enrolment, projection and public consumption, ensure proper registration for courses of students at specified periods etc.
All these are now vested on the shoulders of Dr. Usman Ibrahim Aikawa, the new Director of Kano State Polytechnic, Academic Planning, Research and Development.
This is no doubt because Dr Aikawa is seen as a man of distinction who distinguished himself in every place he found himself.
His zero tolerance to laziness and truancy to work is probably and certainly what made him the number one choice of the Kano Poly management which made the institution to entrusted its academic planning unit to him.
Born on the 9th February, 1972 at No. 64 Aikawa Quarters, Dala Local Government Area, Kano State, Dr. Aikawa attended Bayero University Kano Staff School Kano, between 1978 to September 1984 and proceeded to the Federal Government College Kano, for his secondary education where he completed in 1990 with flying colors which gave him admission into Bayero University Kano.
His academic credentials are a clear testimony of his brilliance and erudition. He bagged his first degree in Mechanical Engineering between 1993 to 1997 and served his National Youth Service Corps in Maiduguri, Borno State from June, 1997 to June, 1998.
The new Academic Planning Director was at the Bayero University Kano again for the second time for his Master of Engineering (Energy) between 2004 to 2009.
A professional Mechanical Engineer with managerial and leadership skills and the quest for research in academic and community development, Dr. Aikawa also bagged his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) from the University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom in March, 2016.
Dr. Aikawa first worked with the New Nigerian Newspapers Limited Kaduna between July 2000 to February 2001 where he worked as Systems Analyst and Computer Operator.
He later joined the services of the Kano State Polytechnic as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Technology and rose through the ranks and is currently a Chief Lecturer.
This illustrious Engineer became a member of various learned professional institutions which include the Nigerian Institution of Mech. Engineers, COREN, Nigerian Society of Engineers and American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Dr Aikawa has to his credit several awards and commendations by Kano State Polytechnic Management for service in revitalization of KSP staff school, certificate of Honor by National Association of Kano State Students, certificate of Service by Joint Consultative Forum of Kano State Tertiary Institutions and commendation by Kano State Polytechnic Management for Service rendered towards successful accreditation.
Others are certificate of Honor he got are from the HND Mechanical Engineering students 2008/2009 session KSP, certificate of Honor by Association of Mechanical Engineering Students KSP for quality performance as HOD Welding and Fabrication Technology and certificate of Honor by Association of Mechanical Engineering Students KSP as a PATRON.
The rest are certificate of Honor he received are from the Association of Mechanical Engineering Students KSP for being an adviser, Appreciation by ASUP Kano State Polytechnic Chapter, Commendation by Kano State Polytechnic Management for outstanding performance in examination and invigilation and certificate of Honor by Mazawaje Family for community Service.
The avid researcher, committed and innovative writer has published several scholarly publications and presented papers at academic conferences too numerous to mention both locally and internationally.
The new helmsman of Kano Polytechnic academic directorate is presently working on two publications titled: Practical refrigeration and air-conditioning for Engineers, Technologist and Technicians and Report writing techniques for Engineering and Technology Students.
He also attended the Training on management and administration (ASCON), Administering trade unions in a receding economy (ASUP National), Training on entrepreneurship development, Training on test and evaluation, Training on heat transfer, methodologies in boilers and heat exchangers optimization, Computer aided design (AUTOCAD), Networking and internet connectivity and Information technology multimedia simulation.
The erudite Engineer has bagged several academic research awards and prizes and is also serving as member of some Academic Journals as board member and assessor which include (Shamdi Research and Publications international), Editorial Board of FASAHA Journal School of Technology Kano State Polytechnic and Assessor Journal of Rural Technology and Entrepreneurship Development Kano State Polytechnic.
An educationist par excellence, Engineer Aikawa was the Head of Department Mechanical Engineering Technology, Pioneer Sectional Head Mechatronics engineering Kano Poly, Pioneer Head of Welding and Fabrication Technology, the Examination Officer Mechanical Engineering Department, Sectional Head Thermodynamics and Fluids, Guidance and counselling Innovative & Vocational Enterprise institute and Sectional head welding and fabrication Innovative & Vocational Enterprise institute.
Dr. Aikawa also served as the Chairman Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) KSP from 2015 to 2017 and also the Zonal Treasurer, Northwest ASUP from 2015 to 2017. One salient truth about the new Director was the great footmarks he left in every previous position he occupied.
Dr. Aikawa was the Chairman Kano State Govt. transition subcommittee on TVET (Tech and vocational education and training), Chairman land encroachment committee Kano Poly and the Chairman Local Organizing Committee ASUP National Conference and Member Kano State Committee on Equipment Purchase for Dangote Skill Acquisition Center Zaria road Kano.
He was also a member of sensitive and important committees of the institution with remarkable impacts, such as Kano State committee on implementation of scheme of service for Kano State Polytechnic, committee on revitalization of KSP staff school, Research and Academic Development Committee KSP, Expanded Management Committee KSP, Joint Consultative Forum Kano Tertiary Institutions, and Task force on Rehabilitation, works and Physical Development KSP.
The rest are Mining Engineering Department Committee KSP, Task Force on the rehabilitation works and physical development Kano Polytechnic, Sells of scrap materials in Kano Polytechnic, HOD’s and Directors Election monitoring team in Kano Polytechnic and ASUP NEC hosting Committee.
A man of great and several accomplishments, Dr. Aikawa was in the team of the National Board For Technical Education (NBTE) accreditation of several polytechnics and also served as supervisor and examiner for Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria and Internal and External Assessor for staff Promotion and book publication (Kano State Polytechnic, HAFED Poly, Kaduna Polytechnic etc)
The positive impacts made by this meticulous engineer has earned him several positions which include Chairman Conference Venue and Transportation Committee, Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (Kano Chapter) AGM Kano, Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (Kano Chapter) and EX-OFFICIO, Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (Kano Chapter).
Dr. Aikawa was a Consultant: Baseline study on skills development ecosystem in EDO, EKITI, ABIA, BENUE, KANO and GOMBE States, The Academy of Learning Nigeria (14th July to 9th October, 2020) and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB): ADHOC Technical Supervisor, 2019-
In community service, ebullient Dr. Usman Ibrahim Aikawa has held or holding various leadership positions and impacted tremendously on the society, individuals and groups, particularly the youths. He is a member of Nigerian Police Special Constabulary, (Rank; ASP and Present OC traffic), Vice-chairman Chiranchi Gabas, Dorayi Security committee, member Elders / Advisers committee for the development of Chiranchi Gabas and member Elders committee Mazaunar Tanko Youth Development.
Dr. Aikawa has supervised a number of projects which includes Design, construction and testing of a portable electric furnace using TSAKUWA clay as its refractory, Design and construction of an electric powered sieving machine, Design and construction of rice threshing machine etc
As part of his undying passion for his community development, Dr Aikawa is a member or participated in any move that is beneficial and uplift his people especially those at the grassroots.
Dr. Aikawa who has reading, sports and traveling as hobbies is married to three wives (Jamila Jibril, Baraka Idris Suraj and Khadijat Adam) and has many children.
Allah ya ta ya riko, ameen.
1 Comment
May God guide you and hold your hands