The Federal Government has approved the establishment of a federal polytechnic in Abuja, to be named after President Bola Tinubu.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in a letter addressed to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, on January 9. According to Alausa, the initiative is part of the government’s commitment to ensuring that every state in the country has a federal polytechnic.
The minister stated that the proposed polytechnic aligns with the administration’s policy to advance technological and vocational education, which is crucial for national development. He requested the FCT Minister to propose suitable locations in Gwarinpa for both the temporary and permanent sites of the institution.
A technical team from the Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) is scheduled to conduct inspections to assess the identified sites. Alausa further noted that the government is open to converting existing tertiary institutions within the FCT to the new polytechnic, provided they meet the required standards.
NBTE Initiatives to Revitalize Polytechnic Education
Meanwhile, the NBTE has taken steps to address critical challenges facing polytechnic education in Nigeria. The board recently inaugurated a foundation to enhance the capacity of polytechnics nationwide, foster industry collaboration, and promote international partnerships.
The Executive Secretary of the NBTE, Idris Bugaje, emphasized the vital role polytechnics play in driving economic growth and industrial development.
“Our polytechnic system must be the engine that propels Nigeria’s economic transformation and industrial progress,” Bugaje stated, reaffirming the government’s dedication to strengthening technical education across the country.
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