The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, has unveiled the Nigeria Polytechnic Foundation (NIPOF), a new initiative designed to strengthen technical and vocational education and drive innovation across polytechnics in the country. The foundation was launched on Wednesday at an event organised by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in Abuja, where stakeholders highlighted the urgent need to reposition polytechnics for national development.
Speaking at the unveiling, Ahmad said NIPOF would help transform polytechnics into engines of creativity, centres of technical expertise, and strong hubs for applied research. She noted that the launch came at a time when national conversations were shifting toward skills development, youth employability and preparing the workforce for future opportunities.
According to her, the Ministry of Education is committed to expanding the capacity of the nation’s technical and vocational education, especially as polytechnics play a central role in producing skilled manpower for sectors such as manufacturing, engineering, renewable energy, digital technology, agriculture and transportation.
Ahmad said, “Today’s event is not merely the birth of a new institution. It is the beginning of a movement, to reposition our polytechnics as engines of creativity, hubs of technical expertise, and centres of applied research that directly respond to the needs of industry and society. The launch of NIPOF comes at a pivotal moment in our national conversation on skills development, youth employability, and the future of work.”
She explained that the foundation was structured to support programme development, improve infrastructure, promote entrepreneurship, reward excellence and enhance the quality of teaching and learning across polytechnic institutions. She added that the global focus on STEMM, TVET and applied research placed Nigeria in a position where investment in technical education had become necessary for global competitiveness.
Ahmad listed areas where NIPOF could make major impact, including strengthening industry-oriented training, expanding internships, improving private sector linkages, supporting lecturer capacity-building, funding research and prototypes with commercial promise, and encouraging more women to pursue technical careers while boosting entrepreneurship among students and graduates.
She also stressed the need to improve the perception of technical and vocational education, saying TVET should be seen as a strategic pathway to national development rather than a second option. She promised the ministry’s support to ensure NIPOF grows into a catalyst for excellence, innovation and inclusion across the country’s polytechnics.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Nura Rimi, also spoke at the event and congratulated NBTE and the NIPOF Council for what he described as a visionary and timely initiative. Rimi said the foundation’s establishment aligned with the Federal Government’s aim of building a highly skilled workforce and deepening collaboration between polytechnics and industry players.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, highlighted the urgent need to strengthen Nigeria’s technical education system. He noted that Nigeria’s industrialisation would remain slow unless polytechnics were properly equipped and adequately funded. Bugaje explained that the idea for NIPOF began in 2021 when a U.S.-based Nigerian suggested mobilising modern training equipment from American institutions where such equipment had become outdated. According to him, NBTE made arrangements to ship the equipment, but the donating institution later declined because it could not donate to a Nigerian government agency.
“That was when we were advised to create a non-governmental platform. So, we thought: why not a Nigerian Polytechnic Foundation? It will serve as the platform to seek equipment, training and other forms of support for our polytechnics,” he said.
Bugaje added that the minister’s involvement expanded the foundation’s scope, making it clear that Nigerian industries must become active partners if polytechnics are to produce graduates ready for modern manufacturing needs. He urged the board of trustees to immediately begin engaging major industrial stakeholders for collaboration.
