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 stated beneath 1P1P, each polytechnic should manufacture no less than one product regionally, noting that Nigeria shouldn’t be importing easy gadgets like wheelbarrows.
He stated Nigeria’s heavy dependence on overseas know-how and imports reveals a weak hyperlink between technical training and {industry}.
“Nigerian researchers are not talking to the industry,” he stated, urging researchers to contain producers and end-users from the beginning to guarantee analysis solves actual market issues.
Bugaje stated polytechnics and TVET establishments want larger 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 known as for industry-led curriculum critiques, fashionable labs and workshops, and stronger partnerships the place firms present sensible coaching and gear to polytechnics.
He additionally stated 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, stated 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, stated WAITRO has over 200 member organisations globally.
He stated researchers usually lack market insights to commercialise findings, whereas companies can not afford personal analysis models, including that his organisations can translate {industry} wants into college analysis and convey improvements to market.
He stated Nigeria has the inhabitants, market and uncooked supplies to appeal to know-how and funding.
RMRDC Director-General, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, stated Nigeria should bridge research-industry hole to maximise worth from its pure sources and analysis investments, including that the council is pursuing worldwide partnerships for know-how switch and commercialisation.
TETFund consultant, Dr. Conforto-Chamberlain, stated the Fund is now prioritizing analysis that produces commercially viable merchandise, not simply publications, by centres of excellence.
Dr. Ike Willie Nwobu known 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 stated college students mustn’t graduate with out publicity to farms, livestock and workshops, simply as medical college students require instructing hospitals.
Stakeholders known as for stronger collaboration amongst authorities, researchers, polytechnics and companies to convert technical training and analysis into native manufacturing and industrial development.
