Rivers State Polytechnic is situated in Bori, the traditional headquarter of Ogoni, politically described as Rivers East. The School is located on expense of land about two kilometers from the Bori Motor Park. The institution swallowed up the relics of the Regina Caeli Teachers Training College (TTC), the Government Technical College, as well as the Army Children Primary School, all in Bori.
The idea of Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori remains a typical manner of the act of God. Many scholars have always credited late Paul T.N. Birabi, because of his original thought of a technical college in Ogoni land. However, this could not come immediately because of the different views expressed by the Ogoni elites and Chiefs (then) who preferred a Grammar School.
According to G.N Loolo (1981), as cited in the history of the Ogoni, the view of Paul T.N Birabi for a technical college was vehemently opposed by certain sections of Ogoni, who wanted a National College where classical and Liberal Arts would be taught. Dreams come true in various ways.
The foundation of Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori started on the occasion of the 5th convocation ceremony of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu on the 19th of March, 1988. God by His Divine Grace handed down a providential flat to the Rivers State people through the former military Governor of Rivers State, Colonel Anthony Ukpo who declared the intention to establish a Polytechnic in Rivers State.
As the erstwhile Governor Ukpo was about to deliver his address for the convocation, he reached for his pen and inserted something in the address. This “Something” as later came to be known from Governor’s address, turned out to be the promise of a Polytechnic to the people of Rivers State.
From the convocation, the stage was set for the unfolding of events towards the creation of Rivers State Polytechnic. The occasion has become an important historical reference point to the origin of this institution, as that “inserted” clause in the convocation address became the first founding instrument.
The quick succession of events, which followed Governor Ukpo’s pronouncement on that occasion, was true demonstration of Government marching words with action.
Within two months, the Ministry of Education and the defunct Governor Advisory Panel had prepared planning options for the take-off of the Polytechnic leading to the setting up of Seven-man Provisional Governing Council on 13th may, 1988 with the indefatigable Professor Dagogo M.J Fubara of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu Port Harcourt as chairman.
To provide courses of instruction, training and research in applied science, technology, commerce, business, management and such other fields of learning as the Polytechnic may from time to time determine having regard at all times to the man-power needs of the date in particular and of the Federation in general
To provide special training course including technical education and in-service training for members of the public services and the private sector
To continually address the problems posed by the nation’s developmental needs and the peculiar difficult terrain of the state through teaching and research into the appropriate technology and management.
The Polytechnic campuses include Bori campus comprising Engineering Campus and Management Campus and the Kira Campus. The Bori campus lies between easting 319090.000mE and 319490.000mE and northing 515820.000mN and 516420.000mN located at Poly Road, P.M.B. 20, Bori, Khana Local Government Area, Rivers State.
Kira campus lies between easting 306600.000mE and 307500.000mE and northing 521500.000mN and 522000.000mN located at Kira, Tai Local Government Area, Rivers State.
The range of its academic programmes at present include Pre-National Diploma (PRE-ND), national Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor Technology (which commences any time from now). Programmes developed for the Polytechnic takes precedence over others.
The population of the school community is made up of staff and students. The staff population is about nine hundred and seventy eighty (978) persons, while the student present population is about nine thousand and eighty four (9084) persons.
The population is expected to grow with a growth rate of 1.7% in the next ten years to about ten thousand seven hundred and fifty one (10,751) persons.
However, the projected population will form the basis for the provision of facilities especially student accommodation.