Polytechnic education is the future of Nigeria, the Chairman, Governing Board of the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, Prof Modupe Adelabu, has declared.
She added that vocational and technical education were answers to sustainable development of the country.
Adelabu made the assertion during a stakeholders meeting at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta which had Ogun State Government Officials led by the Special Adviser to the governor on tertiary education, Prof. (Mrs) Sidi Osho, members of management team of the Polytechnic, Academic and Non-academic Staff Unions’ executives as well as representatives of Students’ Union in attendance.
According to the NBTE boss who was on oversight visit to MAPOLY, Nigeria was destined for greatness in line with the ideals of her founding fathers.
She said the country must tap into the manpower and technical resources offered by polytechnic institutions across the country.
While commending the management and staff of MAPOLY for the smooth and steady running of academic activities despite the turbulent times it had gone through, the NBTE boss urged the institution to continue to deliver in line with its mandates.
Adelabu who was visibly impressed by the number of doctorate degree holders in the polytechnic, put at over seventy, further enjoined the staffers to make a priority their professional and personal development.
She added that it was important for them to attend peer review and international conferences and write qualitative academic papers, to improve their productivity.
She disclosed that Federal Government of Nigeria was ready to finance vocational and technical education as it had secured support of World Bank to boost same.
Also speaking during the parley, Special Adviser on Tertiary Education to Governor of Ogun State, Prof. Sidi Osho, restated the commitment of the state government to support MAPOLY and ensure it takes back its original position as a leading light in technical education in the country.
The Rector of MAPOLY, Dr. Samson Odedina, in his welcome address said though the institution was faced with some challenges in the past two years, noted that the polytechnic’s accreditation was never withdrawn and the location was not changed from Abeokuta.
While appreciating the government for the support it has offered the institution, Odedina called for cooperation of NBTE in considering the proposal of MAPOLY for accreditation of new courses and the old which are due for re-accreditation.
