The Federal Government has inaugurated a ministerial implementation committee to oversee the modernisation of laboratories and enhance skills development in Nigerian polytechnics.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, inaugurated the committee in Abuja and said the initiative was aimed at phasing out obsolete equipment in polytechnics across the country. He explained that the programme would introduce industrial-grade engineering facilities and strengthen hands-on technical training in beneficiary institutions.
According to him, the intervention is supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and will cover 37 federal and state polytechnics under the second phase of the Skills-G intervention.
“The key objective of this intervention is the modernisation of our laboratories, phasing out obsolete equipment in Nigerian polytechnics and replacing them with industrial-grade engineering equipment,” Dr Alausa stated, describing it as “the second phase [whose] first phase was carried out between 2011 and 2012”.
“Now, we are in the second phase and 37 polytechnics will benefit. Unlike the previous TETFund intervention that focused on buildings, the Skills-G intervention will focus on the polytechnic laboratory ecosystem,” he explained.
Dr Alausa said the programme would provide equipment for mechatronics, robotics, renewable energy systems, advanced telecommunications, electronics and automobile engineering. He added that the reform would ensure dual certification for polytechnic graduates, combining the National Diploma (ND) or Higher National Diploma (HND) with recognised National Skills Qualification certificates.
He further disclosed that the committee would supervise ongoing skills development interventions in 14 polytechnics, recommend institutions for the third phase in 2026 and monitor the upgrade of engineering workshops in selected institutions.
Stressing accountability and transparency, the Minister said some institutions had previously procured unusable equipment that is now kept in storage. He warned that quarterly reports would be submitted to the Federal Ministry of Education and TETFund, and non-compliant institutions could face sanctions.
Professor Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and chairman of the committee, said the body would revive delayed Skills-G implementation. He added that it would ensure proper execution of the 2025 skills intervention and screen polytechnics for the 2026 phase.
Professor Bugaje noted that upgrading engineering workshops would help Nigeria align with global engineering standards under international accords.
Earlier, Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary of TETFund, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to funding the interventions. He explained that earlier delays were linked to ongoing contracts and new local-content requirements, and assured stakeholders of continued collaboration to improve technical and engineering education in the country.
