President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has advocated for a curriculum overhaul to boost skill acquisition and industrial development in Nigerian polytechnics.
Akpabio stated this in Abuja on Friday, at a one-day retreat for NASS members, rectors, chairmen of governing councils, and other stakeholders, with the theme: “Repositioning Polytechnics to Deliver on Nigeria’s Industrialisation.”
The retreat was organised by the Polytechnic Committee of the House of Representatives and the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Senator Akpabio, who was represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, Dandutse Muntari Mohammed, spoke about the potential of polytechnics in driving innovation, drawing inspiration from global success stories like China and Europe.
He vowed to enhance polytechnic capacity with enabling laws for sustainable development in Nigeria.
“We want to improve the capacity of polytechnics in Nigeria so that they can be innovative and also create job opportunities for Nigerians.
“That is why the House Committee Chairman and I decided to hold this important retreat so that we can join hands with the leadership of the executive to ensure that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, we sustain employment opportunities and foster industrial development through the polytechnics.
“Skill acquisition and innovation often start with these polytechnics. So, there is a need to change the curriculum and focus on implementing reforms so that polytechnics can achieve what others have not. Many developed countries, especially China and European nations, depend on skill acquisition to drive invention and innovation.”
The Senate President also spoke about the need for dialogue over industrial actions, emphasising collaboration for progress and advocating for a holistic approach to resolving labour issues in Nigeria’s educational sector.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics, Rep. Fuad Kayode Laguda, said the government is working to create a better working relationship for the improvement and growth of polytechnics.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, emphasized the need for alignment, stating that polytechnics must focus on delivering skills that enhance employability.
