According to the Webometrics 2023 annual global ranking of top tertiary institutions, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua (Awkapoly), has secured the second position among all polytechnics in Nigeria.
The leading spot was claimed by Federal Polytechnic Ilaro in Ogun State, with Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State taking third place, followed by Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State in the fourth position, and Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri in Imo State completing the top five.
It’s worth noting that Akwapoly was previously ranked as Nigeria’s fourth-best polytechnic from 2011 to 2012, but its ranking slipped to the 99th position between 2014 and 2018.
However, the institution witnessed a significant rise from 99th to the 18th position during 2019-2021 before its current remarkable leap to the second position.
To achieve this remarkable feat, Akwapoly surpassed other reputable institutions such as Ibadan Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Offa, and others, securing its place as the second-best polytechnic in the country.
Among the top ten positions, six are occupied by federal polytechnics. Following Akwapoly, Lagos City Polytechnic achieved the sixth position, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi claimed the seventh position, Federal Polytechnic Ede secured the eighth position, while the ninth and tenth positions were taken by Federal Polytechnic Bida and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta, respectively.
What sets Akwapoly apart is that it is the only state-owned polytechnic to have made it to the top ten, while Lagos City Polytechnic is the sole privately-owned polytechnic on the list.
The Webometrics Ranking system evaluates institutions based on a composite indicator, considering factors such as the number of lecturers with Ph.D. and Masters degrees, the total number of NBTE-accredited courses offered by the institutions, publications by academic staff, and the visibility and impact of these web publications measured by the number of external links they receive.
The Cybermetrics Lab, a research group of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) located in Madrid, publishes this ranking.
In response to this achievement, the Rector, Dr. Moses Umobong, attributed the success to the grace of God, the support from the Akwa Ibom State Government, as well as the efforts of the management, staff, and students of the polytechnic.
He expressed his appreciation for the hard work, determination, commitment, and dedication shown by all major stakeholders, and also praised the Akwa Ibom State Government for providing a conducive environment for learning and research.
