Sonny Echono
TETFund approves N130m as zonal intervention to polytechnics
By Uji A. Iliyasu
Abuja
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) said it has approved N130,000,000.00 as zonal intervention for each polytechnic in the Fund’s 2023 intervention line aimed at reinvigorating skills acquisition in polytechnics nationwide.
TETFund’s Director of Infrastructure, Malam Buhari Mika’Ilu, disclosed this Tuesday in Abuja at the TETFund/NBTE Sensitisation Workshop on the 2023 Zonal Intervention on Skills for Rectors and Directors of Skills in Beneficiary Polytechnics.
He explained that the intervention was to consolidate the efforts of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in increasing the capacities of polytechnics to deliver on their mandate, adding that the intervention was mostly used to support institutions to meet basic requirements for accreditation.
Mika’Ilu said the intervention is basically focused on projects with academic relevance, thereby addressing deficiencies in core areas of acquisition of essential instructional materials and equipment for teaching and learning and building capacities for the use of the equipment procured.
He said, ”Funds are allocated in line with the provision of the Establishment Act and guided towards addressing critical and essential needs of the beneficiary institutions for the improvement of quality and maintenance of standards in the tertiary educational institutions.
”NBTE has been at the forefront in championing the need to have skills in the educational system in Nigeria.
”It is in response to this, that the Fund has prioritised the 2023 Zonal Allocation to polytechnics to be geared towards reinvigorating skills acquisition in the polytechnics across the country.
”This is to further consolidate the efforts of NBTE of increasing the capacities of Polytechnics to deliver on their mandate.
”Therefore, the sum of N130,000,000.00 only allocated to each polytechnic has the main focus of procurement, Installation, Testing, Training and commissioning of relevant training materials.”
The director also revealed that since the inception of the Zonal Intervention in 2016, the Fund had allocated the sum of N52,046,079,584.7 as zonal intervention to enlisted polytechnics.
”In the year 2017, the Fund focused the Zonal intervention on the ‘Student Dignity Project’. Hence, the intervention was used to upgrade and standardise all lavatory facilities or provision of new ones where necessary in academic areas of institutions. Also shuttle buses (coaches) were also procured for students’ use among other projects.
”Most recently, the 2022 intervention was used for the deployment of ICT facilities within the institutions in line with the guidelines developed by the Fund. This is essentially to increase the capacities of institutions to function effectively and deliver their programmes online.
”The Fund has allocated a total of N60,290,000,000.00 for Zonal Intervention for the year 2023 to all the two hundred and nineteen beneficiary institutions of which, the sum of N9,230,000,000.00 is allocated to polytechnics,” he added
He said the intervention, a post-research activity, had created an opportunity for academic staff in Science and Technology Programmes to fabricate equipment, thus promoting skills development in the Polytechnics.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, on his part, charged rectors of polytechnics to explore innovative approaches to skills development and as well devise effective solutions that would enhance the quality and relevance of technical education in the institutions.
Echono said that skills development and entrepreneurship represented a holistic process in which individuals in society pursue opportunities and address needs through innovation.
He, however, said that acquiring skills prepares individuals for employment across all sectors of the economy and helps overcome numerous challenges as well as fostering a brighter future for both the nation and individuals for global competition.
”Today, we recognise the significant strides made by TETFund and NBTE in promoting skills development in our beneficiary polytechnics.
”Our unwavering commitment to advancing technical and vocational education has paved the way for countless success stories, empowering individuals and transforming communities across our great nation.
”The purpose of this sensitisation workshop is to discuss and enlighten participants on two key areas: One is the skills agenda and occupational areas as a panacea for gainful employment of graduates and the second is the formalisation of the informal skills sector.
”By focusing on these aspects, we aim to address the critical needs for aligning our educational system with the demands of the labour market,” he said.
The TETFund executive secretary acknowledged that graduates equipped with relevant skills and competencies were more likely to secure gainful employment and contribute meaningfully to the development of our nation, hence the need for the intervention.