ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-President Bola Tinubu has approved the conversion of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) into a university.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made this announcement on Friday during a working visit to the institution, where he addressed the school’s management, staff, and students.
“The rector said some minutes ago that the staff, students, and management of the college have been praying and fasting that it be converted to a university. Somehow, you have kind of ambushed me, but I must let you know that when I discussed the issue with President Bola Tinubu, he did not waste time in approving. I am just waiting for the memo and other necessary protocols from the appropriate quarters.”
Dr. Alausa highlighted YABATECH’s legacy and its academic strength, noting, “This school is a legacy, and with over 200 staff members holding doctorate degrees in various fields, it is more than ready and fit to become a university. All the credit about this should go to the president, who loves education and is concerned about giving the best to the youths who are our future leaders.”
He praised the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and assured government support.
“I commend you for pursuing excellence, and we need innovation and investments in technology for development, and I can assure you that the federal government would back you up,” he added.
The minister also emphasized the Tinubu administration’s focus on technical and vocational education, with the inclusion of entrepreneurship, as a strategy to curb the Japa Syndrome.
“We are not taking the issue of artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, and others with levity. We know that if our youths are good at those things, they can be in Nigeria and working for firms in many parts of the world, and they will be earning foreign exchange. That will help stem this Japa of a thing, where people would travel abroad to do menial jobs,” he stated.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Announces New Tertiary Institution Boards
Reflecting on Nigeria’s educational policies, Dr. Alausa pointed out that for over three decades, the country prioritized producing graduates who sought white-collar jobs, neglecting technical and vocational education. He noted that the current administration is changing this approach.
“In Europe and other places, the focus has been on incorporating TVET to become a core aspect of their education system, and that is what we are doing now. We need education that would aid manufacturing and technological innovations and that would also lead to a robust private sector, which will drive societal growth and development,” he opined.
YABATECH Rector, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, reiterated the institution’s qualifications for university status, citing its strong academic faculty.
“While we are praying that we become a university, we don’t want to become just one of those universities. We want to be a university of technical and vocational education that would bring innovation and also solve societal problems and challenges and contribute greatly to the advancement of our dear country. We have the manpower, and we just need the support of the government in this regard,” he stated.
Dr. Abdul also outlined the achievements of his administration, assuring that efforts would continue to enhance the institution’s standards.
The Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Funso Afolabi, expressed gratitude to the minister for his visit and appealed for his support in fulfilling the institution’s needs.
A bill formalizing the institution’s status change and its new name is expected to be presented to the National Assembly for approval and presidential assent.