President Bola Tinubu has said technical and vocational education are critical to addressing and solving challenges in the country.
Tinubu made the call at the 26th and 29th combined convocation ceremony of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo on Saturday.
Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Regional Development, Chief Abubakar Momoh, said technical skills were a backbone of the economy as they drive innovation, improve productivity and create jobs.
“Technical education is needed to drive industrial development, job creation and technological advancement.
“Our country’s economic growth depends heavily on institutions like this which play vital roles in equipping young people with skills needed to be self-employed. You are equipped to become leaders, creators and problem solvers. The essence of a polytechnic is to process the practical hand-on skills that are essential for driving our regional and national development,” he said.
Also, the Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Alausa, called for the judicious utilisation of resources provided by the Education Trust Fund (ETF) for tertiary institutions.
“In fairness, the government is trying its best through the Education Trust Fund (ETF) intervention. I would like to admonish that ETF inputs must be seen to be appropriately and judiciously utilised so that, in no distant time, we will all begin a harvest of the attendant benefits.”
He affirmed the government’s determination to move technological education to greater heights. “To realise this highly beneficial aim of technological advancement, I dare say that focus will always be on the polytechnics,” he said.
He enjoined the management and staff of the polytechnic to continue to maintain the integrity of the institution by always striving to excel.
“It is public knowledge that all manner of unethical practices are reported of a number of our higher institutions. But, I am glad to note that no finger has been pointed in the direction of Auchi Polytechnic. With regard to this malady, you must, therefore, continue to sustain your integrity and never join the bandwagon,” he said.
He implored the teaching staff to demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities.
“They should put in that extra effort to make learning attractive so that some of our youths, who now believe that education is a scam, will be convinced to start thinking positively about education,” he said.
Chairman, Governing Council of the institution, Prof. Jonathan Ayuba, appealed to the Federal Government for more budgetary allocation.
“Although the Federal Government is doing its best to fund the polytechnic, the intervention, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), is not sufficient to address the infrastructural deficit of the institution.
The Rector, Dr. Salisu Umar, said 19,543 bagged Higher National Diplomas in the last four years.
Umar disclosed that 14 projects had been completed, while six were ongoing since he became Rector in 2022.
Among the projects are a 250-capacity twin-lecture theatre for the School of Engineering, a workshop for the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and a block of offices for the School of Agricultural Technology.
Other projects include the renovation of 22 classrooms in the School of Environmental Studies, remodeling of a laboratory for the School of Applied Science, construction of the polytechnic’s main gate, construction of the Centre for Innovation and Skills Acquisition, among others.