The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has approved N130,000,000.00 as a zonal intervention for each polytechnic in its 2023 intervention line toward strengthening skills acquisition in polytechnics across the country.

Buhari Mika’Ilu, the Director of Infrastructure of the Fund, disclosed this at the TETFund/NBTE Sensitisation Workshop on the 2023 Zonal Intervention on Skills for Rectors and Directors of Skills in Beneficiary Polytechnics in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Tuesday.

According to Mika’Ilu, 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.

He explained that the intervention was mostly used to support institutions to meet basic requirements for accreditation.

He added that the intervention focused purely 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.

”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”, Mika’Ilu said.

Speaking further, the director also revealed that since inception of the Zonal Intervention in 2016, the Fund had allocated a total sum of N52,046,079,584.7 as zonal Intervention to enlisted polytechnics.

He continued, ”In the year 2017, the Fund focused the Zonal intervention on “Student Dignity Project”. Hence, the intervention was used to upgrade and standardise all lavatory facilities or provision 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 employment of ICT facilities within the institutions in line with the guidelines developed by the Fund. This is essential 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 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.

Mika’Ilu expressed optimism that the intervention would, in the long run, support the institution to resuscitate skills and improve graduate employability.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono had tasked rectors of polytechnics to explore the 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 emphasised that skills development and entrepreneurship represented a holistic process in which individuals in society pursue opportunities and address needs through innovation.

He, however, noted that acquiring skills prepares individuals for employment across all sectors of the economy and helps overcome numerous challenges as well 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.

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Prof. Bogoro spoke at the commissioning of the Renewable Resources Center located at the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, University of Ibadan which was funded by the combination of 2011 to 2014 TETFund normal intervention.

The multidisciplinary research efforts of the Centre culminated in various projects including biogas and accessories, electricity generation, spent slurry utilization for liquid and solid organic fertilizer, mushroom cultivation, smokeless charcoal, Syngas from less significant wastes and household composter among others.

Elated by the innovations, the TETFund boss noted that working together in projects like these goes a long way to develop the country in its “waste to wealth ” campaign, adding, “working together also guarantee effective mentoring of the younger ones”

Prof. Bogoro who challenged universities to keep the problems of the society in focus in their research, pointed out that the gown must be relevant to the town by cultivating the industry, saying “expectations of leadership are from the universities”

Earlier, one of the leaders of the research team, Prof. M. K. C. Sridhar recalled that the concept of a Renewable Resources Centre began in 1980s when his researches were centered on environment, pollution, wastes, community health and wellbeing.

According to him, “the charcoal we produced with the kiln is the product of March 9, 2019 storm which devastated UI campus resulting in several trees falling. We have over 25 projects which we can proudly market including photo therapy lamp for neonatal jaundice treatment”

In his own remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka thanked TETFund for the investment and intervention, expressing optimism that “with more funding, UI is ready to scale up much of the knowledge that has been incubated ”

Some of the innovations were later displayed to the amazement of the gathering.

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