The federal government has asked polytechnics to prioritise technical education by phasing out non-technical programmes and aligning academic offerings with the demands of industry and the labour market.
Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, made the call on Thursday in Abuja while inaugurating the governing board of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), urging institutions under the board’s oversight to deepen their focus on applied sciences, engineering, technology and innovation.
Alausa emphasised the need for polytechnics to begin winding down non-technical programmes that lie outside their core mandate, as part of a broader push to align technical education with Nigeria’s industrialisation goals.
He maintained that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is not a fallback to university education but a strategic national priority, noting that industrialisation cannot happen without a strong pipeline of technicians, technologists, artisans, fabricators, automation specialists and machine operators.
“The government has backed this shift with sustained investment and policy reform aimed at closing the gap between classroom learning and industry demand, spanning technical colleges, polytechnics, colleges of education and universities.
