INERM: So, Engr. Usman M. Kallamu, what’s your story?

As i have said, my name is Engr. Usman Kallamu, the Acting Rector Federal Polytechnic Damaturu. I was born 16 January 1964. I attended Daban Fulani Primary School in Kwame Local Government Gombe State 1970 – 1977. From there I proceeded to Government Secondary School Nafada from 1979 – 1982 from my junior secondary school. In 1984 I proceeded to Government Science Secondary school Gombe Where I passed out in 1964.

Thereafter, I proceeded to Kaduna Polytechnic 1985 – 1988 where I read Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. After that, I obtained my HND at Kaduna Polytechnic 1996 – 1993. By 1994 I went back to my working place, and in 1996 – 1997 I went to University of Agriculture Makurdi where I read post graduate diploma in mechanical engineering. From there in 2000 – 2005 I was in AbubakarTafawaBalewa University for my masters in Engineering. And then from 2011 to date I went to University of Agriculture Makurdi to obtain my Ph.D., which I have already defended, now i am waiting for my result. That is all of this.

For my working career, I have started working as assistant technical officer in Gombe local government up to the level of senior technical officer. From there I transfer my service to get an appointment here. I came here 1^st April 1995 as assistant director of works, so I was in works department up to 2000, then I transfer my service from non-academic to academic staff, I remain in academic from 2000 to date. I started as higher principal instructor up to chief instructor, thereafter I change my cadre to lecturer cadre, as I am talking to you now, and I am one of the chief lecturers of this polytechnic. This is just a brief.

NERM: If we’re sitting here a year from now celebrating what a great year it’s been for you in this role, what did you achieve?

I took over the affairs of this institution 16^thJanuary 2017 which is just a months early this year, from this time I took over in this moment I have done my best to see that at least I carry everybody along, because there was a lot of misunderstanding, hence when I came on board I did my possible best to see that I carry everybody along. So that everybody that has something to contribute is welcome in order to move this polytechnic to a greater height attain. Therefore I call all the polytechnic community, if there is anybody who thinks that there is something he can offer to the polytechnic anytime they are free to come and meet me. Been the head of this polytechnic doesn’t mean I am the most known, or I am better than any, I myself cannot move the polytechnic to a greater height attain until when others give me their contributions.

So what I did was to make sure I carry everybody along to see if there is any problem what is the problem, in order to look at it realistically to solve it, if there is any interest, let us put the interest aside to face the reality and work on it. If it is something against me I will appreciate it, if it is against others I will say please accept it. By doing so we can move the polytechnic forward. But if anyone of us is doing his own differently, based on his interest there is problem. Hence, we should put the interest that is what I did, and I get the cooperation of the polytechnic community.

NERM: if you were able to maintain this relations like the way you are doing no, what do you think you will achieve by next year?

There is no any organization or society thatcan succeed without peace, and if there is peace and good working relations through carrying everybody along by next year we will achieve a lot. We are expecting construction projects from TETFUND, and before then I ask each department to give us their own area of need and estimate. What amount do they want to see that within our limited resources if we can be able to do?

So with this, before the end of the year by the grace of God we are going to achieve a lot. Already we have identify all the problems and areas that needs urgent attention. We have already earmarked the equipment each department need. By the grace of God in the next four month we will startimplementing. As soon as approval came from TETFUND you will start seeing changes. With this before the end of the year you will see and a lots of changes in terms of infrastructures.

Before the end of the year I want this school to be online in whatever e re doing, now all our registrations, buying of forms, and in whatever we are doing I don’t want it to continue the way it is during my time. So we will change in to e-system. Our library is going to be e-library that is our hope by god grace.

NERM: Sir in your opinion, it seems like you belongs to everybody and you belong to nobody. And in terms of carrying everybody along as you said is what you did when you come on board. So we don’t hear you talking about carrying students along through their representatives i.e. the student union government we don’t know whether there is good working relations between management and SUG, is like the union is going down and in provision of recreation facilities for students relaxation?

Thank you very much, when I came on board, there was no student union government, so what I did was that, I call on the student affairsofficer (the Director), to meet with the chairman of various states unions that are here, in order to know what is their problems, so that we can see which one we can tackle. After he met with them. We discuss their problem with him which is primarily the need for Student Union Government. Hence, I give him the directive to go and start preparing on how this student union government is going to be formed. As I am taking to you now the SUG is coming in a short possible time.  Prior to SUG elections I go around hostels to see what is going on, and I orders the director of works to forward all the observations to see how we can go about.

Hence, without students nobody will be here, so all of us are here because of the student. That is why we have much concern to students than any other thing. All what we are planning to brig equipmentand infrastructures was to prepare a conducive atmosphere and practical facilities for them to have a comfortable environment.

NERM: Sir, been a human being there are something you like and those you don’t like, What things do you not like to do?

When I took over I have already tell my subordinates, and all the Unions that are coming to me for courtesy call. I tell them two things, that whenever they are coming to me they should please tell me the truth. What I don’t like is to be misled by somebody on something that is not true. What is like is honesty all the time, I don’t want to be deceived. I usually pass these messages to my directors, unions among others. Whatever we are discussing we should face the reality and do things that are in order and keep aside things that are not in order.

NERM; can you please tell us about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career.

You know every institutions either polytechnic, college of education or university; its programmes has to be accredited, that accreditation has so many rules and set of guidelines before a particular programme to be accredited. So, what I like most now is that we are having accreditation by either second or last quarter of this year. So what I like most is to make sure that the equipment that are needed for accreditation are obtained. Secondly you know a polytechnic that doesn’t have engineering is just a mono-technic, so I want to have a comprehensive engineering complex in which our people will be train so that the can be self-reliant after graduation.

NERM: sir, do you have a role model that you are copying in trying to achieve your goal?

This question it seem to me like you want me to refer to somebody else. For me anybody who is willing to do something good and standard he is my role model. I don’t want to specifically mention a particular person. All I know that I have in my mine is that I want to achieve or execute my projects to standard, so that everybody that come across it will appreciate. Everybody on that track is my role model.