–Inaugurates NBTE Board

–APPN Calls on FG to Prioritise Technical Education

By Isa Abdul, Abuja

Polytechnics in Nigeria have been directed by the Federal Government to phase out non-technical courses that are not within their statutory mandate.

Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, gave this directive on Thursday in Abuja while inaugurating the Governing Board of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). The directive was given reminding board members’ responsibilities to institutions under the NBTE’s regulatory oversight, to strengthen their focus on applied sciences, engineering, technology and innovation.

Dr Alausa emphasised that Technical and Vocational Education and Training is no longer an alternative pathway to university education but a strategic national priority.

He reiterated that no nation can achieve meaningful industrialisation without a formidable base of technicians, technologists, artisans, fabricators, automation specialists, machine operators and other skilled professionals.

In his view, the Federal Government has therefore prioritised the sector through sustained investments and reforms aimed at bridging the long-standing gap between education and industry while equipping learners in technical colleges, polytechnics, colleges of education and universities with practical, lifelong skills for employment, entrepreneurship and global competitiveness.

He described the inauguration as another significant milestone in the implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places education and human capital development at the heart of Nigeria’s economic transformation.

Alausa said the administration is deliberately shifting the nation’s education system from an overdependence on paper qualifications to producing competent, innovative and highly skilled graduates equipped to drive industrialisation, entrepreneurship and national productivity.

He congratulated the Chairman and members of the Board on their appointments, adding that their selection was in recognition of their professionalism, integrity and commitment to national service.

Alausa expressed confidence that the calibre of individuals appointed would provide the strategic leadership required to strengthen NBTE’s mandate, deepen reforms across the technical education sector and accelerate the Federal Government’s vision of building a globally competitive workforce capable of supporting industrial growth, innovation and sustainable economic development.

He outlined four key priorities for the newly inaugurated Governing Board, charging members to provide strategic leadership to ensure sound policy direction and effective oversight. He charged them to maintain a clear distinction between governance and management as they allowed the Executive Secretary and Management Team to handle the day-to-day administration of the Board.

He also directed the Board to accelerate the implementation of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund and other stakeholders to formally recognise and certify the competencies of skilled artisans across the country under the National Skills Qualification Framework.

He emphasised that the initiative would enhance employability, expand access to finance, create opportunities for government contracts and strengthen labour mobility within the ECOWAS region.

On curriculum reform, the Minister called for comprehensive modernisation through Outcome Based Education, with programmes reflecting the realities of Industry 4.0 by integrating digital technologies, automation, artificial intelligence, green technologies, advanced manufacturing systems and other emerging competencies.

The Minister further underscored the importance of fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability, directing the Board to ensure that public resources, capital projects, intervention funds, research initiatives and institutional investments should translate into measurable improvements in skills acquisition, institutional performance, youth employment and national productivity.

Prof. Babatunde L. Salako, Chairman of the Governing Board, while responding on behalf of the members, said that the long-held perception of technical education as a second-choice option was gone, but now one of the Board’s foremost responsibilities.

He stressed the need for sustained public enlightenment to encourage parents, students and the wider society to embrace TVET as a respected pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and national development, assuring the Minister that the Board would justify the confidence reposed in it through dedicated service, effective governance and performance that would produce measurable results.

The Executive Secretary of NBTE and Secretary to the Governing Board, Prof. Idris M. Bugaje, in a vote of thanks assured the Minister of the Board’s commitment to maintaining a productive working relationship with the Federal Ministry of Education and supporting the successful implementation of the administration’s TVET transformation agenda.

Relatedly, Dr Benjamin Achiatar, President, Association of Private Polytechnics in Nigeria, has called on the Federal Government to pay more attention to technical education in the country.

The APPN president made this call in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Monday saying:

“Government should pay attention and support private sector education because technical education is instrumental in making a remarkable contribution to nation building through skilled manpower and enhancing productivity.

“A skilled technical workforce attracts investment and supports industries that drive economic development.

“Not only does it drive industrialization, a nation’s technical capabilities can improve its standing in the global market.”

Achiatar added that technical education encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills which are important for innovation.

He said the government promised to grow the private sector noting that private polytechnics represent the private-sector in education.

In his view, if the government helps the private sector with facilities to grow, it will lead to gross domestic production.

“We pay taxes; hence, we are seeking support in infrastructure deficits like power, whether solar, generators, or transformers, and also water supply through boreholes,’’ he said.

Achiatar appealed that the National Research Fund should also be open to all who have creative ideas and innovations, not just government institutions. In his words:

“Government institutions and functionaries should make themselves available for dialogue with us for meaningful progress to produce needed technical manpower to drive Nigeria’s industrialisation.

“I want to add that other countries like China are converting universities to polytechnics to fire their industries.

“If we do not pay attention to education in technology, we will continue to be importing products from other countries and paying them money, growing their economies.’

Also speaking, General Secretary of the APPN, Olusola Alalade, said that if polytechnics can offer degree courses and award B.Tech (Hons), it would serve the system better.

“That means polytechnics can provide a workforce for the middle level, for industries, while a small percentage can also be involved in advanced academic activities like research, among others,’’ he said.

Alalade, who is the proprietor of Igbaja Polytechnic, said that research grants provided by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Tetfund, to universities should also be made available to private polytechnics.

He urged the Federal Government to also extend the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, NELFund loans to students in private institutions.

“The fund should cover both students in public and private institutions because we are all in the same market, and all are students of the government.

“Everybody should be given equal opportunity by allowing all students to be covered in the program,’’ he added.

By Nick Ibe, Abuja

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has rained encomiums on President Boka Tinubu for giving the green light to hire 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers for Federal Unity Colleges, saying the move is a defining action that reflects the President’s dedication to upgrading Nigeria’s education system and securing the country’s future.

In his view, the approval marks one of the boldest steps by the Tinubu Administration to close the persistent teacher gap in Federal Unity Colleges.

He said it also acknowledges the loyalty and long service of thousands of PTA teachers who have kept classrooms running nationwide.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by Special Adviser Media and Communications to the minister, Ikharo Attah. The statement said:

“The President has endorsed the recruitment exercise. First consideration will go to verified PTA teachers, many of whom have worked in our Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges for nearly 25 years. This decision now gives them a pathway into the core federal civil service.”

Dr. Alausa framed the development as a key achievement under the Renewed Hope Agenda’s ongoing overhaul of education noting that the recruitment will help balance the teacher-to-student ratio in Unity Colleges and recognize educators who have sustained quality teaching despite years of job insecurity.

The minister said that the approval came after a full-scale audit carried out by an Inter-Ministerial Committee. The panel vetted eligible PTA teachers across all Federal Unity Colleges and confirmed 3,252 teachers in three categories: Education Officers, Assistant Education Officers, and Technical Instructors. He expressed optimism that their formal absorption into service will proceed once all required legal and administrative steps are completed.

Alausa added that integrating seasoned educators into the federal workforce will help retain critical institutional experience, raise classroom standards, and boost learning results in Unity Colleges, stressing that the exercise aligns with the Federal Government’s wider plan to elevate teacher quality and restore the colleges as hubs of academic excellence.

He further reaffirmed that the Federal Ministry of Education will partner with relevant government bodies to finalize the outstanding statutory procedures needed for the official recruitment clearance, in line with existing public service rules.

–VC, FUHSO

By Our Reporter

The need to make mathematics tuition-free has been explained by the management of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO).

Disclosing the need was the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Aba Uba, while interacting journalists at the institution’s temporary campus in Otukpo, Benue State.

Prof Uba said the decision followed concerns by the university management over the financial burden on many families, particularly in Benue State with most parents depending on agriculture as the primary source of livelihood.

He revealed how the university’s management approached the Governing Council with a proposal to exempt Mathematics students from paying tuition, noting that the council approved the request.

Professor Uba reiterated that Mathematics remains a foundation for every science-based programme stressing that making the course tuition-free would encourage more young people to pursue the discipline and strengthen the country’s science and health workforce.

Apart from making Mathematics tuition free for students, he said the university had also reviewed downward tuition fees for all other programmes, following the intervention of the management and the approval of the Governing Council.

The Vice-Chancellor further expressed hope that the university would soon relocate to its permanent saying:

“We are committed to moving to the permanent campus as soon as the ongoing projects are completed.”

The VC commended the Federal Government for establishing the institution and for its continued support through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), saying the interventions had contributed significantly to the university’s growth.

He assured that the university would continue to pursue its mandate by expanding its academic programmes and improving teaching and research facilities.

He added that FUHSO is considering the introduction of Agricultural Science programmes, explaining that food and nutrition are a critical part of healthcare.

According to him, offering agriculture-related courses would complement the university’s health-focused mandate rather than deviate from it.

He also revealed that the institution’s student population has witnessed remarkable growth, rising from an initial enrolment of 564 students to about 2,373.

He noted that while the university is known for medical education, its mandate extends beyond producing medical doctors.

He said the institution is equally committed to training other critical healthcare professionals, including nurses, medical laboratory scientists, physiologists, anatomists and other specialists needed to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare