The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has restated its determination to strengthen the quality of polytechnic education in Nigeria, even as it vowed to sustain its clampdown on mushroom entities parading themselves as polytechnics.
Director of Polytechnic and Allied Programmes at NBTE, Dr Fatimah Umar, on Tuesday, September 16 gave the assurance during an accreditation visit to Harvarde College of Science, Business and Management Studies, Obada, Abeokuta.
She explained that although the sector faces some challenges, it has remained a critical driver of skills development required for national growth.
According to her, “We have been fighting against mushroom entities calling themselves what they are not.. We won’t stop to fight such an establishment in the interest of safeguarding what is best for the nation.
“Yes, we know that there is no way we won’t have a few bad eggs around, but we shall continue to fight them and ensure that they do not stand in the way of the government’s commitment to the delivery of qualitative education at all levels.”
Read Also: PENGASSAN, NUPENG Vows To Halt Refinery Operations
Umar emphasised that the polytechnic system continues to play a vital role in equipping young Nigerians with practical knowledge for economic and technological advancement.
She added, “Yes, knowledge is good, but we can’t put all our eggs in one basket, and so in terms of execution of this knowledge, the polytechnic education has been leading, and that is why the polytechnic education has remained relevant to building a more prosperous nation”.
The NBTE director noted that the visit to Harvard College was to evaluate its programmes in two broad clusters of science and management studies, covering courses such as Business Administration, Software Development and Cyber Security.
“From what I observed so far in terms of facilities, because I have also been privileged to be here in the past, the institution, in terms of facilities and infrastructure, is not having any challenge,” Umar said.
She, however, urged lecturers to embrace personal growth through registration with professional bodies, participation in conferences, research publications, and continuous learning, stressing that these steps would help them deliver greater value to students.
The Director also commended the institution’s management for aligning with federal government efforts to improve tertiary education, charging them to sustain excellence and adhere to NBTE’s standards.
