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Towards peace and development in Federal Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education in the country, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has highlighted critical strategies to be embraced by the institutions.
To this end, the Minister held a meeting with Provosts and Rectors of Federal Colleges of Education, Federal Polytechnics, and allied Institutions, in Abuja.
Dr Alausa said "As leaders of Federal polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria I want to task you to adopt a strategic approach to improve and grow their institutions by focusing on the following areas:
"Aligning Education to Nigeria’s Needs. You need to:
•. Develop a Skill-Based Curriculum, by updating your academic programs to include skills that address national challenges, such as renewable energy, ICT, manufacturing. Essentially focusing more on STEM and TVET.
"•. Align your educational programs with Nigeria’s National Development Plan, ensuring graduates are equipped to contribute to economic diversification and sustainable development.
"•. Collaborate with industries to provide students with practical experience through internships and apprenticeship programs.
"•. Tailor your acedemic programs to meet local economic, social, and environmental needs while addressing issues like unemployment and climate change.
"•. Establish mechanisms to regularly assess graduate employability and industry relevance, using feedback to refine educational strategies.
To boost Education and Food Security, he said the leaders should:
"• Integrate agricultural education and food security concepts into technical and vocational training programs, emphasizing sustainable practices, modern technologies, and agribusiness.
"• For those institutions with schools of Agriculture, you should establish farms, and agritech centers where students can learn modern farming techniques, food processing, and storage innovations.
"•. Collaborate with local communities to promote food production, especially in the area of Poultry farming, where the local community can be engaged for mutual benefit to the host community and beyound.
"•. Partner with organizations such as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, agribusiness companies, and international development agencies to provide funding, technical support, and scholarships.
For the institutions to make use of Endowments, the Minister said "I will advice that you:
" •. Establish Endowment Funds and work with alumni, private sector stakeholders, and philanthropists to set up these funds to support scholarships, infrastructure development, and research.
"•. Create a governance framework to manage endowments transparently, ensuring accountability and alignment with institutional goals.
"•. Mobilize alumni to contribute financially and offer mentorship or internships for students.
"•. Engage in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) projects. You can also leverage corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to secure funding for academic programs, equipment, and faculty development.
On Capacity Building, he said "You should:
" •. Offer regular training, workshops, and advanced certifications for academic and non-academic staff to enhance their technical and pedagogical skills.
"•. Invest in digital tools and infrastructure for teaching, learning, and administrative efficiency, ensuring faculty are trained in their effective use.
"•. Develop leadership programs for administrative heads to improve governance, resource management, and strategic planning.
"•. Facilitate exchange programs and collaborations with international institutions to expose faculty and students to global best practices.
" •. Incorporate entrepreneurial training into the curriculum to empower students and staff to create value in their fields." he stated
He also advised the institutions on Research to Establish centers of excellence dedicated to key areas like science, technology, engineering amd mathematics education.
The Minister said they should also Partner with industries to identify research needs, secure funding, and translate research findings into practical solutions.
He urged them to Focus research on addressing national priorities, including renewable energy, digital innovation, and infrastructure.
The institutions leaders, he said, should actively seek research grants from local and international funding agencies such as TETFund, African Union Research Grants, and global research bodies.
He said they should also Publish findings in reputable journals, host conferences, and facilitate knowledge-sharing platforms within and beyond Nigeria.
By adopting the strategies, he said, "Federal polytechnics and Colleges of Education, can position their institutions as engines of national development, fostering innovation, self-reliance, and economic growth in Nigeria."
He reminded them that the Governing Councils are representatives of the President and the ministry with the mandate to provide robust supervision and oversight to ensure the institutions are run properly according to law.
According to him, they are expected to set the tone for institutional excellence, promote good governance, and support the pursuit of academic and infrastructural development.
"Both roles should compliment each other. We will not condone disrecpect from the management of any of the institutions under your purview towards our Governing Councils.
"You should carry out lawful instructions given to you from the Governing Councils. The ministry will not hesitate to act if you flout lawful instructions or advice from the Councils.
"Disagreements and misunderstandings are bound to occur in any human interaction. These should be amicably handled with maturity and according to the Acts setting up your various institutions. Where these measures do not solve the problems, you should write to the ministry promptly to advert further escalation of tension within your institution.
"There would be consequences for any infraction in this regard. Either party looking down on the order will not be tolerated. Everyone should know their role and act accordingly please." he stated
The Minister assured that the Federal Government will continue to support the institutions to achieve their mandates.
"Let me assure you all, that this administration remains fully committed to supporting your efforts as leaders in the education sector. We recognize the challenges you face and are ready to address any barriers that hinder your progress.
"The Ministry will maintain an open-door policy, ensuring continuous collaboration to strengthen institutional frameworks, foster accountability, and optimize resource utilization." he said