-News/Comments
Abuja-The Rector, Yaba College of Technology, Engr (Dr) Ibraheem Abdul has adduced twenty Justifications for the transformation of the college to a full fledge University while advocating that her new name should reflect and maintain the institution’s acronym as Yabatech.
He gave the justifications in his address at the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND’s one day Public Hearing, on the conversion of the college to Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, Yaba at Abuja.
According to the Rector, who defend the College views on the proposed University said:
“We are submitting a memorandum asking the national assembly to champion the transformation of the college into a University and fast tracking its legislative process and the endorsement to maintain the acronym of Yabatech by naming it as Yaba Technical and Vocational University, a specialised institution”.
Dr. Abdul however maintained that Yabatech possessed the manpower and capacity to operate as a University, having sustained her greatness for decades, emphasising that in term infrastructure and personnel, the College has proved its worth.
“We have over 2,000 staff, over 150 of them being PhD holders, and we have infrastructures that are available to support the university structure of the college. This in effect will enable the National Assembly to champion this historic transformation”
He further stressed the historical significance of college, founded in 1947, with the distinction of being Nigeria’s first tertiary institution. Its transformation into a university is not just symbolic but recognizes over seven decades of national service in which the University status will honor Nigeria’s educational history and reaffirms the country’s commitment to preserve and upgrade its foundational institutions.
The rector identified the college as a National TVET Leader that has consistently been at the forefront of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Nigeria. The college, he said, produces industry-ready graduates and has been a model for other polytechnics. Transitioning it to a University of Technology offers a scalable and mature platform to deliver advanced technical degrees without compromising TVET ideas.
Speaking on the institution’s preparedness, Dr. Abdul disclosed that with over a hundred accredited programs, qualified academic staff, and robust quality assurance mechanisms, the college will not just be starting from the scratch.
The institution has the laboratories, workshops, and classrooms to support university-level teaching and research, requiring only targeted upgrading and not wholesale construction; he added.
The rector, on bridging the skills gap, elucidated that the Nigerian labor market suffers from a significant mismatch between what industries need and what institutions produce and upgrading Yabatech will enable it to offer university-level education in emerging fields like AI, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing thereby addressing critical skills shortages.
As a university, Yabatech will be better positioned to establish research institutes, expand its innovation hubs, and incubators and engage in applied research with industry, generate patents, and contribute directly to Nigeria’s technological development; Dr. Abdul expatiated.
The Senate Majority Leader, Senator, Bamidele Opeyemi, who sponsored the Bill transforming Yaba College of Technology into a University of Technology and Vocational Studies, in his presentation at the public hearing said the college is the Premier institution in Nigeria and her conversion will be of no financial implication.
The chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, Senator Muntari Muhammad Dandutse expressed his appreciation to all the critical stakeholders present for being able to turn out amass, submission of memoranda with a promise not to disappoint them on all decision reached at the meeting.
The critical stakeholders at the public hearing with a firm and unanimous voice approved the transformation of all the six institutions put up by the Senate Committee and urged the national assembly to fast track the legislative process of the transformation. At the hearing, the National president of the College’s Alumni, Arch. Osibajo led few alumnus to the hearing.
Recall that early in May this year, a bill to convert the College to a university passed the second reading, which many saw as a green light for the Institution.
For breaking news/commentary, adverts, please call, +2348028592006, email us: afrikanwatch122@gmail.com. follow us on twitter: @afrikanwatchm, facebook: linkedin: afrikanwatch network communications, afrikanwatch network, instagram, @afrikanwatchm.
FOR YABA College OF Technology This Management Should PLS ADD FEDERAL TO THE NEW UNIVERSITY TO BE YABA Federal Technical AND Vocational UNIVERSITY
FROM IDANRE COLLege OF MANagement SCIence AND TEChnology