Alausa urges innovation, governance reforms in polytechnics

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has urged polytechnics to drive innovation, good governance and sustainability, to accelerate Nigeria’s national development.

Alausa said this in Abuja on Wednesday, at a retreat for governing council chairmen, commissioners of education, rectors, registrars and bursars.

The retreat was organised by the Council for Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria (COHEADS), with the theme: “Transforming Polytechnic Education in Nigeria: Innovation, Good Governance and Sustainability for National Development”.

Alausa said the Federal Ministry of Education had prioritised revitalising Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to produce industry-ready graduates with practical, problem-solving skills.

He urged institutions to establish entrepreneurship centres, research hubs and industry partnerships to transform ideas into enterprises and reposition graduates as job creators.

” Innovation must be the heartbeat of our Polytechnics, therefore, I urge you to foster entrepreneurship centres, research hubs, and industry partnerships that turn ideas into prototypes, inventions into enterprises, which will graduate into job creators.

” Polytechnics should lead in areas like renewable energy, agriculture technology, digital manufacturing, and climate-resilient solutions directly contributing to Nigeria’s sustainable development goals,” he said.

Alausa stressed that transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership must also guide governing councils, adding that the era of impunity was over, with zero tolerance for corruption.

He said sustainability required long-term funding models, increased internally generated revenue, eco-friendly campuses and infrastructure that reduced import dependence through local production.

The minister assured stakeholders of government support under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including reforms to eliminate the HND dichotomy and strengthen polytechnics.

Dr Sani Tunga, Chairman of COHEADS, called for stronger collaboration to reposition polytechnic education.

Tunga said that polytechnics played a critical role in producing skilled and entrepreneurial manpower for national diversification.

He identified challenges facing the sector to include inadequate funding, outdated infrastructure, governance gaps and the need to align training with evolving industry demands.

“This retreat offers us a unique platform to explore innovative approaches to curriculum development, research, and industry partnerships that respond to 21st-century realities.

” It will also strengthen good governance principles, transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership in our institutions, including clear delineation of roles to prevent overlaps and misunderstandings,” he said.

Tunga also highlighted recurring conflicts between governing councils, management and staff unions, which he said often disrupted harmony and slowed institutional progress.

He said the retreat would provide a platform for honest dialogue, sharing best practices and clarifying roles among councils, management and unions to minimise conflicts.

On his part, the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, said TVET sector was witnessing renewed progress after years of challenges.

Bugaje said deliberate policy actions and reforms in the last two years had begun to reinvent and reposition TVET for national development.

He added that the ongoing amendment of the Polytechnic Act had reached an advanced stage, with the bill passing second reading in the House of Representatives.

He explained that the proposed amendment would allow polytechnics to award National Diplomas and Bachelor of Technology degrees in science, technology and engineering programmes.

Bugaje said non-science programmes would retain the HND structure, with clear progression to postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees.

He also disclosed that technical education had been made free in Federal Technical Colleges, alongside stipends to boost enrolment and retention.

The NBTE boss said Skills Training Centres had been established nationwide, engaging thousands of trainers to empower youths through skills acquisition.

Bugaje said that a ministerial committee had been inaugurated to monitor skills interventions across 37 polytechnics, including upgrading engineering schools to global standards.

He urged stakeholders to support the reforms with dedication, stressing that polytechnics must focus on skills-based education rather than replicating the university system.