Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has proposed giving between N1 billion and N1.5 billion to every polytechnic to set up manufacturing traces beneath its One Product, One Polytechnic (1P1P) initiative.
Director-General of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, disclosed this at a strategic session in Abuja organised by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) with the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisations (WAITRO), tertiary establishments and personal sector stakeholders.
Bugaje mentioned beneath 1P1P, each polytechnic should manufacture at the very least one product regionally, noting that Nigeria shouldn’t be importing easy objects like wheelbarrows.
He mentioned Nigeria’s heavy dependence on overseas know-how and imports exhibits a weak hyperlink between technical schooling and {industry}.
“Nigerian researchers are not talking to the industry,” he mentioned, urging researchers to contain producers and end-users from the beginning to guarantee analysis solves actual market issues.
Bugaje mentioned polytechnics and TVET establishments want better consideration as a result of they produce the expert manpower for manufacturing and infrastructure.
He cited the engagement of hundreds of Indian technicians throughout development of the Dangote Refinery as proof of Nigeria’s technical manpower hole.
He referred to as for industry-led curriculum opinions, fashionable labs and workshops, and stronger partnerships the place firms present sensible coaching and tools to polytechnics.
He additionally mentioned NBTE is pushing amendments to the Polytechnic Act to permit polytechnics award Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) Honours levels whereas retaining the National Diploma pathway, to finish the HND/BSc dichotomy.
WAITRO Secretary-General, Dr. Benjin Luo, mentioned the academia should join with {industry} to speed up know-how switch and commercialisation.
Luo, who additionally represents China’s National Innovation Centre for Excellence, mentioned WAITRO has over 200 member organisations globally.
He mentioned researchers typically lack market insights to commercialise findings, whereas companies can’t afford personal analysis items, including that his organisations can translate {industry} wants into college analysis and convey improvements to market.
He mentioned Nigeria has the inhabitants, market and uncooked supplies to appeal to know-how and funding.
RMRDC Director-General, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, mentioned Nigeria should bridge research-industry hole to maximise worth from its pure assets and analysis investments, including that the council is pursuing worldwide partnerships for know-how switch and commercialisation.
TETFund consultant, Dr. Conforto-Chamberlain, mentioned the Fund is now prioritizing analysis that produces commercially viable merchandise, not simply publications, by centres of excellence.
Dr. Ike Willie Nwobu referred to as for stronger collaboration between tertiary establishments and RMRDC to enhance sensible coaching, criticising lack of hands-on expertise amongst mechanical engineering and agronomy graduates.
He mentioned college students mustn’t graduate with out publicity to farms, livestock and workshops, simply as medical college students require instructing hospitals.
Stakeholders referred to as for stronger collaboration amongst authorities, researchers, polytechnics and companies to convert technical schooling and analysis into native manufacturing and industrial progress.
