By: ‘Yomi Ayeleso – Ado-Ekiti
The Forum of Nigeria Polytechnics Alumni Association (FONPAA) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Bsc/HND dichotomy act pending on his table before leaving office on May 29.
The forum, which is the umbrella body of all polytechnic alumni associations in the country, explained that the signing of the bill into law by the president would in no small measure help in stabilizing the nation’s education sector and accord graduates of polytechnics their rightful place in the society.
The national chairman of FONPAA, Ibebuke Obialo who spoke with newsmen on Thursday after the forum’s executive committee meeting at the federal polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, appealed to President Buhari to make the signing of the bill removing the dichotomy from university and polytechnics certificates as a parting gift to the nation.
While calling for the adequate funding of the nation’s polytechnic education, the chairman explained that all the challenges confronting the country could be addressed and tackled with effective and well equipped polytechnics education in Nigeria.
For efficient running of the nation’s polytechnics education, the forum also called on the federal government and the incoming administration of Bola Tinubu to consider establishing a board or commission solely for the polytechnics like it is with universities and other institutions in the country.
He said, “We humbly appeal to President Buhari to, as a matter of necessity, give his noble Assent to the HND/BSc Dichotomy Act, pending on his table, in order to calm frayed nerves and renew hope of millions of Nigeria Polytechnic Graduates.
“We call for an Upgrade of Nigeria Polytechnics to Degree Awarding institutions, for increased Academic prowess, as is the norm in advanced climes.
“We call for increased Funding for Nigeria Polytechnics, to further aid their Academics and improve their overall sundry Research works.
“We renew our humble call for the establishment of the Nigeria Polytechnics Commission, a body which will solely be for the administration of Polytechnics, like NUC.”
Speaking, the chairman Alumni Association of federal polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, Abiodun Oyedokun, explained that there is need for stakeholders in the country to support the agitations for the advancement of the polytechnic education.
As part of the reforms in the polytechnic, Oyedokun noted that for better service delivery, the federal government should endeavor panels and committees set up for polytechnic should consist of those who passed through the system.
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