Chairman, Governing Council, Lagos City Polytechnic, Mr Babatunde Odufuwa, has said the major reason for introducing polytechnics into the country has been abandoned by successive governments.
Speaking at the 15th Convocation of the Polytechnic, Odufuwa noted that this was the cause of the socio-economic crisis, particularly unemployment, being experienced in Nigeria.
According to him, the education curriculum is not constantly reviewed to reflect trends.
Odufuwa started by recalling why polytechnic education was introduced into Nigeria, saying, “Polytechnic education was essentially introduced into the country to produce technical manpower, provide technical knowledge and skills to give training and impart necessary skills for the production of technicians, technologists, and other skilled personnel. They, in turn, shall be enterprising and self-reliant to train people, who can apply scientific knowledge to solve environmental problems for the convenience of man and to give exposure to professional development in the technologies.”
He noted that there had been an “obvious shift in focus,” lamenting that leaders still concentrated attention on raising men and women, who would only be fitted for white-collar jobs.
While he commended the Federal Government for creating the enabling environment for private institutions to thrive, he urged the government to ensure that youths embraced polytechnic education.
The keynote speaker, Mr Oluropo Dada, called for a comprehensive review of the tertiary education sector “to draw up a strategic plan and roadmap to revitalise it in line with global best practices.”
He also recommended encouragement of vocational or apprenticeship training; the partnership between industry players and tertiary institutions to enable students to undertake in-company placements internships; investment in enterprise skills development; and diversification of tertiary education curriculum to meet the needs of labour market.
“Industry demands and standards should inform curriculum development,” he said.
Dada also recommended employment of qualified lecturers and instructors; suspension of further approval of new tertiary institutions by the government to enable existing ones to consolidate; introduction of public-private partnerships in tertiary institutions and concerted effort by all stakeholders to raise awareness about the value of technical skills and diverse opportunities available through vocational training, among others.
At the event, 261 were conferred with National Diploma; while 215 were conferred with Higher National Diploma, totaling 476 graduates.
The convocation was attended by principal officers, among whom were the Acting Rector, Mr A.J. Obadipe; Deputy Rector (Academics), Mr O.O. Isibor; Acting Registrar, Mrs Christiana John; and Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs I.A. Odufuwa.