Polytechnic education is fundamental to Nigeria’s technological development -FG

In spite of perceived discrimination between the polytechnic and university certificates in the workplace, especially in the nation’s public service, the Federal Government has acknowledged the products of polytechnic education as major drivers of the nation’s economy.   

*Did she just say they are the "major driver of the nation's economy"? ok, so why the discriminations? I strongly belief its high time we stop celebrating certificates and start recruiting base on what jobseekers have upstairs rather than the content in a cardboard.

Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, speaking recently at the 8th combined Convocation of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, said the current administration has given special attention to polytechnic sub-sector because of its mandate of producing the most essential cadre of manpower needs for the nation.

A total of 11, 432 students were graduated in the combined convocation of 2005/2006 to 2011/2012 sets.

She said: “You will all agree with me that Science and Technology Education is a sine qua non to the growth and development of any nation. The Polytechnic sub-sector however, is a major driver in the process and therefore occupies a cardinal position in the nation’s quest for technological development”.

Prof. Rufa’i, expressed the commitment of the Federal Government to continue to provide support to the sub-sector as long as it sustains its relevance in the national quest. She, accordingly, called for renewed emphasis on the strict compliance to the 70:30 admission ratio in favour of Science and Technology programmes by all Polytechnics.

The Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, also echoed the minister’s position, saying the National Assembly was unrelenting in its efforts to boost technical and technology education in Nigeria, despite obvious challenges.

Maikasuwa, who was one of the awardees conferred with the Honorary Fellowship of Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa on the occasion, said: “The National Assembly has remained proactive and dynamic in its responses to the needs and challenges of the education sector in general, and that of technical education in particular.”

He also delivered a Pre-Convocation lecture, tagged: “The Role of the Legislature in the Development of Technical Education in Nigeria” where he stressed, “the National Assembly plays very crucial role in the development of technical and technology education in Nigeria through the exercise of its functions and power of oversight”.

The Minister of Education, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. MacJohn Nwabiala, speaking further restated Federal Government’s commitment to “ensuring that education takes its pride of place in our national endeavours”.

She noted that the Federal Government was fully aware of the numerous challenges facing Nigeria’s education sector in the areas of funding, access and equity, technical and vocational education among others and is determined more than ever before to tackle them.

She, however, enjoined all stakeholders to partner with government in achieving this lofty objective.

Rufa’i, particularly, called on captains of industries in the country to complement the efforts of Government in the area of research, structural development, award of scholarships, especially to indigent students, capacity building and employment of graduates.

She denounced the prevalence of social vices in Nigerian campuses like cultism, indecent dressing, examination malpractices and other forms of corruption which, she said “have eaten deep into the fabric of our society”.  Prof. Rufai said all hands must be on deck to tackle these ugly phenomena.   

The Minister, who is the Visitor of the Polytechnic, urged that convocations should be done yearly.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Rector, Dr. Pius Otaru Salami commended the Federal Government High Impact Intervention through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to the tune of N1 billion, saying the fund would be used in expanding the existing programmes to cater for the increasing number of applicants showing interest in science and technology education.

He also commended other partners for their laudable contributions towards the realisation of the goals of the polytechnic and solicited for more assistance.