A Legacy of Academic Excellence: Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic Mourns the Passing of Mrs. Ime Asuquo Etuk

The academic community of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, is currently enveloped in a period of solemn reflection and mourning following the transition of one of its most steadfast academic leaders, Mrs. Ime Asuquo Etuk. Until her untimely passing, Mrs. Etuk was a formidable pillar within the institution, serving with distinction as a Chief Lecturer and the Head of Department of General Studies in the School of Communication Arts. Her contributions to the polytechnic transcended the traditional boundaries of the classroom, as she was widely regarded as a mentor, a meticulous administrator, and a champion of intellectual rigor within the humanities.

In recognition of her profound impact on the institution, the management of the polytechnic has coordinated a series of solemn activities to honor her life and service. The farewell ceremonies are scheduled to take place today, Friday, February 27, 2026. According to the official itinerary, the day’s proceedings will commence with a Lying-in-State and a Commemorative Service at the ASUP Secretariat within the Polytechnic campus at 9:00 am. This campus-based tribute is specifically designed to allow colleagues and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to pay their final intellectual respects to a leader who dedicated decades to the advancement of vocational and technical education. Following the campus rites, the funeral service will transition to the Methodist Primary School in Ibiakpan, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, starting at 10:00 am.

The loss of a Head of Department, especially one of Mrs. Etuk's seniority and caliber, creates a significant void in the administrative and pedagogical fabric of the School of Communication Arts. As the head of General Studies, she was responsible for overseeing the foundational curriculum that equips students across all technical disciplines with essential communication and social science skills. Her colleagues often speak of her as a "lecturer’s lecturer," someone who balanced the strictness of academic standards with a motherly empathy that guided thousands of students through the rigors of polytechnic life. Her elevation to the rank of Chief Lecturer was a testament to her scholarly endurance and her commitment to the "Ikot Osurua" brand of excellence.

In a significant show of institutional solidarity and respect, the Management of the Polytechnic, through a circular signed by the Acting Registrar, Godswill E. Udofah, MNIM, has declared Friday, February 27, 2026, as a lecture-free, test-free, and examination-free day. This directive is a rare administrative gesture that underscores the high esteem in which Mrs. Etuk was held. By suspending all formal academic activities, the management has ensured that the entire staff and student body are afforded the opportunity to participate in the funeral services without the burden of academic obligations. This collective pause in the institution’s operations serves as a powerful communal tribute to a woman whose life was inextricably linked to the polytechnic’s mission.

As the community gathers at the ASUP Secretariat and later in Ibiakpan, the atmosphere is expected to be one of both grief and gratitude. The suspension of exams and lectures for the day provides a quiet space for the students of the General Studies department to reflect on the lessons learned under her leadership. For the academic staff, it is a day to reaffirm the bonds of professional brotherhood and to celebrate the career of a colleague who rose to the pinnacle of the polytechnic system. Mrs. Ime Asuquo Etuk’s journey might have reached its earthly conclusion, but her influence remains embedded in the curricula she developed and the minds of the graduates she helped shape.

The Acting Registrar has urged all members of the polytechnic community to conduct themselves with the utmost decorum during the funeral proceedings, reflecting the dignity that Mrs. Etuk carried throughout her tenure. As the flags fly at half-mast and the lecture halls remain silent today, the legacy of this distinguished HOD continues to speak through the enduring values of hard work and integrity she instilled in the School of Communication Arts.