Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has approved the sum of N130 million as zonal intervention for each polytechnic in the country in its 2023 intervention line.
The zonal intervention is geared towards reinvigorating skills acquisition in polytechnics across the country.
The Director of Infrastructure at TETFund, Malam Buhari Mika’Ilu, 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.
Mika’Ilu 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 fore front 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 on 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,” he said.
According to him, since inception of the Zonal Intervention in 2016, the Fund has allocated a total sum of N52,046,079,584.7 as zonal Intervention to enlisted polytechnics.
“Most recently, the 2022 intervention was used for 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.
Mika’Ilu expressed optimism that the intervention would in the long run, support the institution to resuscitate skills and improve graduate employability.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, charged rectors of polytechnics to explore the innovative approaches to skills development and as well device effective solutions that would enhance the quality and relevance of technical education in the institutions.
Echono said skills development and entrepreneurship represented a holistic process in which individuals in society pursue opportunities and address needs through innovation.
He, however, said 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.
“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 labor market,” he said.
