The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has granted approval for a zonal intervention of N130,000,000.00 to each polytechnic as part of its 2023 intervention line. This initiative aims to rejuvenate skills acquisition in polytechnics throughout the country.
During the TETFund/NBTE Sensitisation Workshop on the 2023 Zonal Intervention on Skills for Rectors and Directors of Skills in Beneficiary Polytechnics held in Abuja, Malam Buhari Mika’Ilu, the Director of Infrastructure of the Fund, disclosed this information. He emphasized that the intervention seeks to reinforce the efforts of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in enhancing the capacities of polytechnics to fulfill their mandates.
Mika’Ilu further explained that the primary focus of the intervention is to assist institutions in meeting the basic requirements for accreditation. It primarily supports projects that have academic relevance, addressing deficiencies in the acquisition of necessary instructional materials, teaching and learning equipment, and building capacities for utilizing the procured equipment.
He also clarified that the allocation of funds aligns with the provisions of the Establishment Act, aiming to address critical and essential needs of beneficiary institutions for improving quality and maintaining standards in tertiary educational institutions.
Mika’Ilu also revealed that since the inception of the Zonal Intervention in 2016, the Fund has allocated a total sum of N52,046,079,584.7 to enlisted polytechnics. In previous years, the focus of the intervention varied, such as upgrading and standardizing lavatory facilities, providing shuttle buses for students, and deploying ICT facilities within the institutions.
The Director expressed optimism that the intervention, as a post-research activity, would ultimately support the institutions in revitalizing skills and enhancing graduate employability.
Sonny Echono, who is the Executive Secretary of TETFund, urged polytechnic rectors to explore innovative approaches to skills development and devise effective solutions that enhance the quality and relevance of technical education in their institutions. He emphasized that skills development and entrepreneurship contribute to employment opportunities across various sectors of the economy, preparing individuals to overcome challenges and fostering a brighter future.
Furthermore, Prof. Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, commended TETFund for actively promoting, supporting, and financing skills development in the country. He encouraged polytechnic rectors to embrace the formalization of the informal skills sector using technology. He also clarified that the N130 million allocated to polytechnics in the 2023 intervention line would be utilized for upgrading facilities for skills training, rather than for building projects. He called for a halt to the conversion of polytechnics into universities and stated that polytechnics without skills development centers would not receive accreditation for National Diploma programs.
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