FG won’t allow polytechnics derail from core mandates — NBTE

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has promised that the Federal Government won’t allow Polytechnics operating in the country to derail from fulfilling its mandates as skills, research and innovative platforms for Nigerian experts.

The FG’s regulatory agency, reiterated the preparedness of the agency to ensure that Polytechnics churned out quality graduates with relevant skills, research orientation and innovative thinking that can reset the nation on the path of growth and development.

The NBTE’s Executive Secretary, Professor Idris Bugaje, said spoke in Ikere-Ekiti Ekiti, headquarters of Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti state at the weekend, during a facility tour of a private tertiary institution, Montgomery Polytechnic, for accreditation process prior to commencement of operations in 2025.

The NBTE’s delegation, led by the Director of New Institutions, Hadji Bilikisu Daku, were at the permanent site of the new Polytechnic, located along Ikere-Iju road to inspect facilities for proper accreditation of some courses before kicking off proper academic activities.

Inspecting the facilities, Bugaje represented by an official of the agency, Engr. Rasak Shoremekun, said quality assurance of Nigerian Polytechnic education will boost its stature for global reckoning.

He commended the management of Montgomery Polytechnic for providing state- of- the- earth facilities to earn accreditation, encouraging the management to maintain the good standard as soon as academic activities take off in the institution.

Describing polytechnic education as a vital tool for economic development, Bugaje advised the institution to place high premium on research and skill acquisition, stating that no country can develop or make headway in innovation without adequate research, skill acquisition and exploration.

He said, “The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Federal Ministry of Education will continue to ensure that all our Polytechnics put in place measures to achieve its focus of producing skilled and innovative graduates, who are also research driven.

“It is our vision to ensure that every Polytechnic should meet the set standards before proper accreditation and we shall pursue this with vigour and strength.”

In his submission, the founder of the Polytechnic, Honourable Femi Bamisile, said he established the institution to fulfill his passion and love for the development of education in the country.

Bamisile, who represents Gbonyin/Emure/Ekiti East Federal Constituency at the lower legislative chamber, solicited the support of the agency as well as other good citizens in developing the institution.

“I need the support of all Nigerians to bring my vision to fruition. Polytechnic education is pivotal to the survival and success of our nation. We are now seeing the reality of having graduates that are skilled and innovative. this is a fact we can’t run away from”, Bamisile said.

The Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Francis Olowe, said the institution has put all machinery in motion to begin academic activities as soon as the NBTE accredits some of the courses in the institution.

Olowe posited that some of the courses expected to be accredited by the NBTE are: Accountancy, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Science Laboratory Technology, among others.

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