Tinubu Approved Conversion of YABATECH to University — Minister

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has approved the conversion of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) into a university.

Alausa disclosed this while addressing the management, staff, and students during a working visit to the institution, on Friday.

He said, “The rector said some minutes ago that the staff, students, and management of the college have been praying and fasting that it be converted to a university. Somehow, you have kind of ambushed me, but I must let you know that when I discussed the issue with President Bola Tinubu, he did not waste time in approving. I am just waiting for the memo and other necessary protocols from the appropriate quarters.

“This school is a legacy, and with over 200 staff members holding doctorate degrees in various fields, it is more than ready and fit to become a university. All the credit about this should go to the president, who loves education and is concerned about giving the best to the youths who are our future leaders.”

Alausa inspected and inaugurated several projects within the college, commending the management for maintaining the institution’s facilities despite their age.

“I commend you for pursuing excellence, and we need innovation and investments in technology for development, and I can assure you that the federal government would back you up,” he added.

He emphasized that the Tinubu-led administration’s focus on technical and vocational education, alongside entrepreneurship, aims to address the Japa Syndrome.

“We are not taking the issue of artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, and others with levity. We know that if our youths are good at those things, they can be in Nigeria and be working for firms in many parts of the world, and they will be earning foreign exchange. That will help stem this Japa of a thing, where people would travel abroad to do menial jobs,” the minister stated.

He further noted that for over three decades, Nigeria had sidelined technical and vocational education in favor of producing graduates primarily seeking white-collar jobs, a trend the government is now reversing.

“In Europe and other places, the focus has been on incorporating TVET to become a core aspect of their education system, and that is what we are doing now. We need education that would aid manufacturing and technological innovations and that would also lead to a robust private sector, which will drive societal growth and development,” he further said.

YABATECH Rector, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, reiterated that with over 200 PhD holders on staff, the institution was well-equipped to transition into a university.

“While we are praying that we become a university, we don’t want to become just one of those universities. We want to be a university of technical and vocational education that would bring innovation and also solve societal problems and challenges and contribute greatly to the advancement of our dear country. We have the manpower, and we just need the support of the government in this regard,” he stated.

He also highlighted the college’s achievements under his administration, pledging continued efforts to elevate the institution.

Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Funso Afolabi, expressed gratitude for the minister’s visit and sought his support in meeting their demands.

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