NBTE Secretary Calls On FG To Establishment National Skills Funds For Polytechnics
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof Idris Mohammed Bugaje has called on the federal government to establish National Skills Funds (NSF) for Polytechnics unlike TETFund saying what Polytechnics are getting from TETFUND is inadequate.
Prof. Bugaje made the call while delivery the 61st Anniversary 26th to 29th combined Auchi Polytechnic convocation lecture titled “Re-Engineering Education in Nigeria with Skills Mantra: The Role Of Polytechnics”. In He also said Polytechnics should be refocus on skills, curricula development.
Bugaje who was represented by Dr. Mohammed Yahaya Bande said polytechnics education started earlier than universities education in Nigeria and across Africa such as Yaba College of Technology in 1947 ahead of University of Ibadan of 1948 while Kadun Polytechnic in 1956 was also ahead of Ahmadu Bello University in 1962 adding that most of the world famous innovations of the 18th century such as Benjamin Franklin who discovered electricity current; James Watt, Rudolf Diesel never went to any university.
He noted that the primary aims of polytechnic education in Nigeria was to hands-on experience, equipping students with practical skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the modern professional world.
Going further, Prof. Bugaje stated that at the moment, Nigeria has 88 public and 71 private Polytechnics as against about 270 public and private universities yet only less than 20% are offered admission into Polytechnics levels.
The NBTE Sec emphasized the role of polytechnic education in skills development as its provide practical, real-world training that directly addressed the skills needed for technological emancipation.
He said polytechnic education foster close ties with industries, facilitate internships and collaborative projects that enhanced skills development and technological knowledge and also encouraged an entrepreneurial mindset while preparing students to initiate and lead technological advancement in various sectors.
The NBTE boss however revealed that NBTE has recently introduced Mandatory Skills Qualifications (MSQ) in line with the global trend for requirements for graduation for ND and HND program from the current season.
Prof. Bugaje said despite some of the challenges being faced by the Polytechnics education in Nigeria such as insufficient resources, innovations, recognition, impact and curricular, polytechnics education had also made significant impact on technological developments in Nigeria.
He noted that polytechnics education have cultivate skills directly contributed to enhancing the skills and capabilities of the Nigeria workforce.
According to him, “Polytechnics graduates have played a pivotal role in driving Technology and innovations across various Nigeria industries”.
He however suggested that in improving polytechnics education in Nigeria, there should be more resources for infrastructures development, equipment and skills training to ensure high-quality education; a review of TETFund allocation formula saying that polytechnics departments are more expensive to set up than that of universities department.
In conclusion, Prof. Bugaje therefore advised that there should be constantly adapting and updating the curricula to align with technological advancement to accommodate evolving industry needs and quality assurance must also be maintained to ensure high standard of polytechnic education in Nigeria.
