The Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State, has intensified efforts to align with the Federal Government’s skills-based education policy by training its academic and non-academic staff on the implementation of the National Skills Qualification (NSQ), Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and Mandatory Skills Qualification (MSQ).

‎The capacity-building workshop, organised in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and JACL Consulting, was held at the institution’s Centre for Vocational, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, NDE Model Skills Centre, Onipaanu, Ogbomoso.

‎The training is part of the Polytechnic’s broader strategy to deepen competency-based education and ensure that its graduates leave school with practical and industry-relevant skills capable of improving their employability and entrepreneurial prospects.

The institution had earlier organised a similar exercise for students, a move that reinforces its commitment to preparing both staff and learners for the seamless implementation of the Federal Government’s national skills certification policy.

‎Declaring the workshop open, the Acting Rector, Dr. Morufat Adepoju, described the National Skills Qualifications Framework as a game-changing initiative that would bridge the long-standing gap between classroom learning and industry expectations.

‎According to her, the framework will produce graduates equipped with practical competencies required to meet the demands of a fast-changing economy while strengthening Nigeria’s technical and vocational education system.

‎Adepoju expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Hon. Yakubu Dati, and the Federal Government for their continued support for the institution. She also commended the Executive Secretary of the NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, for driving reforms aimed at repositioning technical education in the country.

‎She equally acknowledged the contributions of the pioneer Rector,  Dr. Taofeek Abdul-Hameed, and other pioneer principal officers, noting that the institution was building on the solid foundation they laid.

‎Explaining the significance of the initiative, the Don  said the National Skills Qualifications Framework provides a nationally recognised system for assessing and certifying occupational knowledge, technical competence and practical skills across various sectors of the economy.

‎She added that the framework would not only improve the quality of technical education but also reduce unemployment by equipping graduates with hands-on skills capable of stimulating entrepreneurship, wealth creation and national development.

‎”The NSQ provides the compass we desperately need as a nation seeking to equip its workforce with relevant competencies for national growth and global competitiveness,” Adepoju said.

‎Earlier, in his welcome address, the Acting Director of the Centre for Vocational, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Oluwaseun Owojori, said the workshop was organised to prepare members of staff for the effective implementation of the NSQ, NSQF and MSQ in line with NBTE guidelines.

‎He stressed that the success of the Federal Government’s skills development agenda would depend largely on the preparedness of institutions and their personnel to deliver quality competency-based education. Owojori thanked the Acting Rector, management, principal officers and participants for their support, while appreciating the resource persons for facilitating the training.

‎One of the facilitators, the Acting Director, South-West Zone of the NBTE, Dr. John Onyebuchi, urged participants to embrace skills acquisition, describing practical competence as a vital asset in today’s economy. “I encourage everyone to acquire a skill because skills are the driving force in today’s economy, not money,” he said.

‎Also speaking, Dr. Julius Ayodele of JACL Consulting encouraged both academic and non-academic staff to participate actively in entrepreneurship and vocational development programmes.

He said continuous skills acquisition would improve professional competence, enhance productivity and open up wider career opportunities, expressing optimism that the workshop would promote innovation and practical learning across the Polytechnic.

The workshop attracted principal officers of the institution, including the Registrar, Mr. Akinlolu Akinpade, represented by the Director of SERVICOM and Deputy Registrar (Council Affairs and Establishment), Mr. Kolapo Olatinwo; the Bursar, Mr. Mufutau Alao, represented by Deputy Bursar, Mr. Lukman Buhari; and the Acting Polytechnic Librarian, Mr. Dare Samuel Adeleke, represented by Dr.  Halimat Amuda, Coordinator of Women in Technical Education and Development.

The Ogun State Government has inaugurated a multi-sectoral Safe Schools Steering Committee as part of renewed efforts to strengthen security architecture across schools in the state amid rising concerns over the safety of pupils, students, and teachers.

The committee is expected to drive the formulation and implementation of policies, strategies, and intervention programmes aimed at preventing security breaches, enhancing emergency preparedness, and ensuring that schools remain safe, stable, and conducive for learning.

Inaugurating the committee in Abeokuta, the state capital, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, described the initiative as a deliberate and strategic response to emerging security challenges in the education sector.

He said the composition of the committee reflected a careful selection of professionals drawn from relevant sectors, based on competence, experience, and institutional responsibility.

According to him, the government recognises that schools can no longer be treated as isolated institutions, but must be protected through coordinated action involving government agencies, security operatives, communities, and development partners.

“The inauguration of the Ogun State Safe Schools Steering Committee is a strategic response aimed at strengthening collaboration among government agencies, security services, communities, development partners and all stakeholders in the education sector,” Arigbabu said.

He stressed that the task before the committee was urgent and non-negotiable, warning that the future of children in the state depended on the quality and timeliness of their decisions.

“As members of this committee, your selection was based on expertise, experience, and institutional responsibilities. This task is both important and urgent. The future of our children depends on the effectiveness of the decisions and actions we take today,” he said.

Arigbabu urged members to discharge their duties with “dedication, professionalism, integrity and a strong sense of purpose,” adding that every school in Ogun State must remain a place of safety, hope, and opportunity rather than fear.

“I therefore charge you to approach this assignment with dedication, professionalism, integrity, and a strong sense of purpose. Let us work together to ensure that every school in Ogun State remains a place of safety, learning, hope, and opportunity,” he added.

Other stakeholders at the inauguration reinforced the need for collective responsibility, stressing that school safety cannot rest on government alone but requires sustained collaboration from all segments of society.

They noted that communities, parents, security agencies, and development partners must work in synergy to safeguard learning environments and protect the future of children.

“As we inaugurate this committee today, let us recognise that school safety is not the responsibility of government alone. It is a shared responsibility requiring partnership, vigilance, innovation, and collective action,” one of the stakeholders said.

“The decisions we take and the commitment we make here today will contribute significantly to shaping the future of thousands of learners across our state,” the stakeholder added.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Wing, has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in the state to embark on an indefinite strike over the continued abduction of teachers and pupils.

The strike, which takes effect from Monday, June 1, 2026, is expected to ground academic activities across public schools in the state.

The union said the action became imperative following what it described as growing insecurity in schools and the prolonged captivity of abducted teachers and pupils whose whereabouts remain unknown.

In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the Oyo State Wing of the NUT, Hassan Fatai, and the Secretary, Salami Olukayode, the union expressed concerns over the psychological impact of the incidents on teachers, learners and parents.

According to the union, the lingering abduction cases have created fear and anxiety among teachers, weakened confidence in the safety of schools and discouraged many parents from sending their children to school.

The statement read in part, “The Nigeria Union of Teachers, Oyo State Wing, hereby directs all public primary and secondary school teachers across the state to commence an indefinite strike action effective from Monday, June 1, 2026, pending urgent and decisive action by relevant authorities on the abduction of teachers and pupils.”

The union explained that the industrial action was aimed at compelling the government and security agencies to intensify efforts toward the immediate and unconditional release of the victims.

It urged teachers across the state to comply fully with the directive, remain peaceful and law-abiding, and prioritise their safety while staying away from classrooms during the strike.

The NUT also expressed solidarity with the abducted victims and their families, assuring that it would continue to engage relevant authorities until the victims were safely rescued.

The union reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare, safety and security of teachers and pupils, stressing that the protection of school communities remained non-negotiable.