Education

NBTE seeks more funding, conversion of 60% of Nigerian varsities into Polys

Published

2 years ago

October 23, 2023

NBTE seeks more funding, conversion of 60% of Nigerian varsities into Polys

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has advocated more funding and conversion of 60 per cent of Nigerian Universities and Polytechnics to bridge the gap in skills deficiency amongst graduates.

The Executive Secretary (ES) of NBTE, Prof Idris Bugaje, made the call on Monday in Kaduna at the North-West zone national workshop on the reviewed entrepreneurship and skills development curricular for entrepreneurship educators in Nigerian Polytechnics and similar institutions.

The theme of the workshop was ‘New approach to entrepreneurship curricular delivery’.

Bugaje, represented by his Special Assistant, Dr Ibrahim Bashir, said, ”For every Engineer produced by a university, he requires at least five technologists, 10 technicians and 20 artisans in executing projects.”

He, therefore, said that the artisans and technologists were products of Polytechnics, which called for a reverse in funding process by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) to pump more funds into polytechnics.

“As a serious nation and trying to do what is expected, we should be promoting skills and not theories.

“We should be thinking of chunning out the skillful youth population out of our higher institutions.

“Our people are always thinking of migrating to Europe and Asia, some through deadly routes. If those people are well skilled with the necessary certification, they will be given red carpet reception wherever they go,”he said.

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Bugaje, therefore, wondered why Nigerians were more passionate about degrees instead of skills.

He stressed the importance of curriculum, stating that it is the foundation of any good programme that wants to be created.

Bugaje said the present curriculum being administered to students in the polytechnics was developed in 2007.

According to him,.there have been a lot of changes over the years, where the mantra of the NBTE was centred on skills and not degrees.

Bugaje said that the NBTE’s advocacy on skills was not in any way discouraging acquisition of degrees, but should be complemented by skills.

“Without skills, one is likely not going to fit into the contemporary competitive world. Skills are now the most important global currency of the world,”he said.

The executive secretary described the uproar by some actors about the ‘top up degree’ programme by the NBTE as uncalled for and unnecessary/

Bugaje stated that converting 60 per cent of Nigerian universities into polytechnics was the right thing to do to be seen as serious in the educational sector.

Earlier, the NBTE’s Director, Curriculum Development Department, Dr Musa Koko, said the workshop was the first in its series and the second since 2007.

He said that the last efforts in developing the entrepreneurship curriculum, teachers guide and training manual was to kick start the Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) in all the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institutions.

Koko said the curriculum development was aimed at improving programme delivery and graduates’ improvement towards self-reliance.

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He explained that the training, which was held between 2007-2010, targeted 300 lecturers with a visit to Songhai Centre in Port Novo, Benin Republic.

“It is important to note that nearly seventeen years of implementation of the EDP project in our institutions has made it overdue both in content, approach and delivery.

“The board under Prof Bugaje had rolled out a decisive policy direction aimed primarily to
address TVET position in skills delivery which include the review of all aging curricula in all the
programmes and especially the EEd,”he said.

Koko added that the review was necessitated because of the time and the need to reinvigorate the spirit of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship for all TVET Institutions and its graduates.

He however, said that presently, the focus was widened because the number of Instructors and lecturers targeted was nearly 4000, with the North- Central alone having about 350 by estimate.

Koko, therefore, said the workshop was to bring the lecture’s attention to the new approach to entrepreneurship delivery.

“This is because the review has addressed the content, pedagogy and the practical requirement in terms of skills and trades as well as award and certification of graduates”,he said.

Koko urged the participants to grant the workshop the necessary attention it deserved.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the entrepreneurship workshop was organized in conjunction with Danglo Management and Financial Limited while it was sponsored by TETfund.

NBTE seeks more funding, conversion of 60% of Nigerian varsities into Polys

(NAN)

Education

JAMB Debunks 2026 UTME Postponement Rumour, Issues Fraud Warning

Published

14 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Trends Admin

JAMB Debunks 2026 UTME Postponement Rumour, Issues Fraud Warning

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has dismissed reports claiming that the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has been postponed, describing the circulating notice as fake, malicious, and misleading.

In a statement released on Saturday, the board urged candidates to disregard the false information, stressing that it did not originate from JAMB and should not be taken seriously.

“Our attention has been drawn to the malicious press release stating that the 2026 UTME has been postponed. The general public, particularly candidates, are hereby informed that the press release is fake and did not emanate from us. Kindly disregard it. All activities on the 2026 UTME continue as scheduled,” the board stated.

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JAMB reaffirmed that the 2026 UTME exam dates remain unchanged, with the nationwide examination set to hold from April 16 to April 25, 2026 at accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.

The clarification comes after the 2026 UTME mock examination held on March 28 experienced technical issues in several CBT centres, which led to confusion and speculation about a possible postponement. According to JAMB, 224,597 candidates registered for the mock exam, while 152,586 successfully sat for the test across 989 CBT centres nationwide. The board disclosed that over 20 CBT centres have been delisted due to technical failures, as part of efforts to ensure a smooth and credible main examination. JAMB assured candidates that lessons from the mock exercise would be used to improve system performance and prevent disruptions during the main UTME.

The board also raised concerns over fraudulent messages circulating online, especially on WhatsApp, where individuals falsely claim they can boost or manipulate UTME scores. JAMB warned that such claims are criminal and deceptive, stressing that any candidate found engaging in such activities risks disqualification, cancellation of registration, or withholding of results.

JAMB advised candidates to rely only on official updates from the board and avoid spreading or believing unverified information that could cause panic. The examination body reiterated its commitment to delivering a credible, transparent, and technology-driven UTME, urging candidates to remain focused as the examination approaches.

JAMB Debunks 2026 UTME Postponement Rumour, Issues Fraud Warning

Education

Ghana Sweeps Top Three Positions in 2025 WASSCE, Outshining Nigeria, Others

Published

2 days ago

April 3, 2026

Trends Admin

West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)

Ghana Sweeps Top Three Positions in 2025 WASSCE, Outshining Nigeria, Others

Ghanaian students have once again demonstrated outstanding academic excellence in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, claiming the top three ranks across the five participating countries. The achievement was highlighted during the 74th Annual Council Meeting of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), held from March 24 to 28, 2026, in Accra, Ghana.

Out of 2,612,830 candidates from Ghana, Nigeria, The Gambia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, three students from Ghana recorded the highest cumulative scores, confirming the country’s leading position in regional education.

Miss Huda Suglo Suleman emerged as the overall best candidate in West Africa, also receiving the prestigious Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award for her top performance. She was closely followed by Miss Paula Adzo Elinam Sowu in second place and Miss Matthea Aba Andoh in third.

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Ghana’s Vice President, Jane Opoku-Agyemang, representing President John Dramani Mahama, praised WAEC for its 74 years of promoting educational standards and regional cooperation. However, she and other officials raised concerns about the rise in examination malpractice, which they warned could undermine the credibility of the council’s work.

During the meeting, Professor Ernest K. Davis, Ghana’s Chief Government Nominee, was elected Vice Chairman of WAEC for a one-year term, succeeding Liberia’s Amos Armah Fully. The council also honored Professor William Asomaning as a Distinguished Friend of the Council for his contributions to education in the region.

The Ghana Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, represented by Deputy Minister Dr. Clement Apaak, emphasized the role of WASSCE in building intellectual and practical skills for national development. He also confirmed Ghana’s return to the international WASSCE starting from the 2026 examination cycle.

The 2025 WASSCE results underscore Ghana’s dominance in regional academic performance, setting a benchmark for other countries, including Nigeria, which aims to improve its own outcomes in future exams. The 75th WAEC Annual Council Meeting is scheduled to be hosted by Nigeria in March 2027, continuing the rotational tradition among member states.

Ghana Sweeps Top Three Positions in 2025 WASSCE, Outshining Nigeria, Others

Education

Tinubu Govt Unveils National Laureate Prize to Reward Best Theses

Published

4 days ago

April 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Nigeria University students in lecture room

Tinubu Govt Unveils National Laureate Prize to Reward Best Theses

The Federal Government of Nigeria, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has launched the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize Programme, a landmark initiative designed to reward outstanding student research across tertiary institutions nationwide. The programme aims to elevate academic excellence, research innovation, and intellectual achievement to the forefront of national recognition.

According to a statement from the Federal Ministry of Education, students whose dissertations and theses demonstrate exceptional scholarly quality and commercial viability will receive significant cash prizes and national recognition. Winners will be celebrated as National Laureates, reflecting the country’s commitment to fostering research-driven development.

The awards are structured as follows:

Undergraduate dissertation winners: ₦5 million
Master’s thesis winners: ₦10 million
Doctoral (PhD) thesis winners: ₦20 million

Announcing the programme, Education Minister Tunji Alausa described it as a strategic national intervention aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s educational incentives. He stressed that the initiative underscores the importance of research as a driver of industrialisation and national development, ensuring that students’ academic efforts are matched with prestige and financial reward.

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“By elevating our students to the status of celebrated National Laureates, we are ensuring that the rigour of research and academic excellence is matched with the highest level of national prestige and financial reward,” Alausa said, adding that theses should be viewed as potential blueprints for national progress, not merely graduation requirements.

The programme will be fully financed by the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) and its strategic partners, ensuring sustainability without additional pressure on public funds. Oversight is provided by a 10-member National Laureate Prize Committee, chaired by Prof. Abubakar Sambo, with representatives from the Nigerian Academy of Sciences, Nigerian Academy of Letters, National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), TETFund, and other academic bodies.

The call for entries will commence in May 2026, with evaluations taking place between June and September, and winners to be honoured at the National Laureate Gala in Abuja in November 2026. The initiative also highlights sustainability and innovation, ensuring that research contributes meaningfully to Nigeria’s knowledge economy.

Officials say the programme encourages students to pursue groundbreaking research that can directly impact policy, technology, and industry, while boosting Nigeria’s global academic reputation.