The Rector of Federal Polytechnic Idah, Dr Yahaya Usman, has advocated for a Bachelor of Technology (BTECH) for Polytechnic graduates across the country.
Dr. Usman made this known at the Nigeria Education Merit Award Platform (NEMWP), held in Lokoja.
He disclosed that the award of BTECH will put an end to all the squabbles concerning the polytechnic-university dichotomy in Nigeria.
“We are advocating for Polytechnic graduates to be awarded a Bachelor of Technology (BTechDr). If this is achieved, we are going to face what we have as a Higher National Diploma certificate.
“The only thing that will exist now is a national diploma. That is what is currently being pushed. If it is welcomed by the government, I am sure that at that particular stakeholders meeting, the Minister was there, and we have all the key stakeholders in the education sector, and it is a proposal that, by God’s grace, will see the light of day. If we go about this idea, our problem at the Polytechnic will be resolved naturally,” he stated.
The Rector lauded the government at all levels for ensuring polytechnic education comes out in full force with the aim and objective for which it was created.
“An aspect of it we have been missing a long time ago that is being taken seriously today is the pet project by the National Board for Technical Education: skills acquisition areas.
”Now, the emphasis is on skill acquisition. Our students in the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma will no longer be coming out with just one certificate, either ND or HND. They will be coming out with an additional certificate, which is an area of skills.
“And that will enhance our technological developments. Instead of importing Chinese people to come and do welding for us, we give students the area of skills and welding ability so that we don’t need to go out.
“We are going to export them out of the country to earn foreign exchange. Today, if a graduate from the Polytechnic comes up, he will not be looking for a white-collar job.
“The way we are going, in the next five or ten years, is what the Executive Director of NBTE is advocating, and if the government agrees to do it for us, our Nigerian youths will be happy at the end of the day. We will not be having this massive unemployment.”.
He thanked the organisers of the Merit Award for identifying his good work in the North Central Zone, adding that he remains committed to transforming Federal Polytechnic Idah into one of the best institutions in the world.
His words: “It is a motivation on its own. I am highly motivated by this singular award given to me today. I won’t forget it in a hurry; rather, it will spur me to do more.
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