The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, has called for a comprehensive transformation of Nigeria’s polytechnic education, emphasising innovation, good governance, and sustainability as key drivers for national development.

His made the call during a retreat organised by the Conference of Heads of Polytechnics, Colleges of Education, and similar institutions for council chairmen, commissioners of education, rectors, registrars, and bursars on Wednesday in Abuja.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Transforming Polytechnic Education in Nigeria: Innovation, Good Governance and Sustainability for National Development’, the minister said, “Polytechnics are not mere institutions; they are the crucibles where innovation meets practicality, where skills forge economic resilience, and where sustainable development becomes a lived reality for our nation.”

The minister highlighted the Federal Ministry of Education’s focus on revitalising Technical and Vocational Education and Training, stressing the need to equip graduates with practical, industry-ready skills.

“We have adopted a policy that ensures our Polytechnic graduates are industry-ready, innovative problem-solvers capable of driving national development,” he stated.

Alausa urged polytechnic leaders to prioritise entrepreneurship and research initiatives.

“Innovation must be the heartbeat of our Polytechnics. I urge you to foster entrepreneurship centres, research hubs, and industry partnerships that turn ideas into prototypes, inventions into enterprises, which will graduate into job creators,” he noted.

He also identified priority sectors including renewable energy, agricultural technology, digital manufacturing, and climate-resilient solutions.

On governance, the minister called for transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership in polytechnics.

“Governing Councils and Management teams must uphold transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership.

“Avoid conflicts of interest, ensure prudent resource management, and prioritise merit in appointments and promotions.

“The era of impunity in our institutions is over; we demand fiscal discipline, timely audits, and zero tolerance for corruption to build public trust and attract investment,” the minister urged.

He further emphasised sustainable funding models through Internally Generated Revenue and reduced import dependence.

Acknowledging challenges such as funding gaps, outdated facilities, and societal biases favouring university degrees over technical skills, the Minister expressed confidence in government support.

“Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, we are committed to supporting you with policy reforms, infrastructure upgrades, and partnerships,” he said.

Alausa also announced a special TETFund intervention to upgrade polytechnic engineering schools with state-of-the-art equipment, following similar interventions in medical colleges last year.

He concluded by urging participants to implement these principles upon returning to their institutions.

In his address, the Chairman of COHEADS, Dr Sani Tunga, said the gathering was both timely and necessary given the role of polytechnic education in Nigeria’s development.

Tunga said the theme reflected current realities facing polytechnics and colleges of technology, which he described as critical institutions for producing skilled and entrepreneurial manpower.

“Our Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology stand at the forefront of producing skilled, innovative, and entrepreneurial manpower needed to drive Nigeria’s diversification agenda, reduce unemployment, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said, while acknowledging challenges such as inadequate funding, outdated infrastructure, changing industry demands, governance gaps and sustainability concerns.

He also drew attention to recurring conflicts within the system, particularly between governing councils and management, and between management and staff unions.

“Among these challenges are the recurring conflicts and tensions that sometimes arise between Governing Councils and Management, as well as between Management and staff unions; such as ASUP, SSANIP, NASU and other critical stakeholders,” he stated.

The chairman explained that such disagreements, often linked to policy interpretation, resource allocation and welfare issues, could undermine harmony and delay progress.

He stressed the importance of collective dialogue among council chairmen, commissioners, rectors, registrars and bursars to address these issues constructively.

According to the COHEADS chairman, the retreat was designed to explore innovative approaches to curriculum development, research and industry partnerships, strengthen governance and accountability, improve financial sustainability, and deliberately address the root causes of conflicts among stakeholders.

He linked the success of the polytechnic sector directly to national development, saying, “The transformation we seek is not merely institutional; it is national.

“A vibrant Polytechnic sector will empower our youths, boost local content in industry, foster self-reliance, and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s emergence as a technological and economic powerhouse.”

Tunga urged participants to use the retreat as an opportunity to reduce conflicts and build stronger working relationships across the system.

In his opening remarks, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Professor Idris Bugaje, has called for a renewed commitment to strengthening polytechnic and technical education in Nigeria, describing recent reforms as a turning point for the sector after decades of neglect.

He traced the origins of technical and polytechnic education in Nigeria, noting that it predates university education in the country.

Bugaje stated that, despite its early start and relevance, technical education suffered neglect after independence, particularly following the civil war, as universities received greater priority.

He highlighted the disparity in numbers, stating, “We have only 153 technical colleges as against over 15,000 senior secondary schools in Nigeria today. We were really struggling to survive in this very unfriendly system.”

According to him, the situation has begun to change in the last two years, largely due to reforms initiated by the current Minister of Education

He said, “Until the last two years, or even a little bit less than two years, we have started seeing light at the end of the tunnel. NBTE is being reinvented, re-engineered, and re-created in Nigeria, courtesy of the effort of Dr Maruf Alausa.”

The retreat brought together top leaders from Nigeria’s polytechnic and technical education sector to chart a path toward skills-driven national development, reflecting a renewed focus on practical education and institutional excellence.

Nigeria’s polytechnic system has long been positioned as a critical driver of technical manpower development, yet it has struggled with declining relevance amid rising youth unemployment and a widening skills gap.

While polytechnics were originally designed to produce middle- and high-level technical professionals for industry, years of underfunding, outdated curricula, weak industry linkages, and societal preference for university degrees have limited their impact on job creation and innovation. (PUNCH)

Update news