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  • News - North Central - FCT
  • Updated: June 06, 2023

TETFund: 130M Approved For Polytechnics As Intervention Fund

TETFund: 130M Approved For Polytechnics As Intervention Fund

The sum of N130,000,000  has been approved by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) as a zonal intervention fund for each polytechnic in its 2023 intervention line.

The fund aims  revitalise skills acquisition in polytechnics across the country.

Director of Infrastructure of the Fund, Malam Buhari Mika’Ilu, disclosed this at the TETFund/NBTE Sensitisation Workshop on the 2023 Zonal Intervention on Skills for Rectors and Directors of Skills in Beneficiary Polytechnics in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to him, the intervention was to strengthen the efforts of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in improve the  polytechnics' capacity to carry out their mandate.

He stated that the intervention's main purpose was to assist colleges in fulfilling prerequisites for accreditation.

The intervention, which was only focused on projects with academic value, aims to solve shortcomings in key areas such as the acquisition of necessary instructional materials and equipment for teaching and learning and the development of user capacities for the equipment purchased.

"Funds are allocated in line with the provision of the Establishment Act and guided towards addressing critical and essential needs of the beneficiary institutions for the improvement of quality and maintenance of standards in the tertiary educational institutions.

"NBTE has been at the forefront in championing the need to have skills in the educational system in Nigeria.

"It is in response to this, that the Fund has prioritised the 2023 Zonal Allocation to polytechnics to be geared towards reinvigorating skills acquisition in the polytechnics across the country.

”This is to further consolidate the efforts of NBTE of increasing the capacities of Polytechnics to deliver on their mandate.

"Therefore, the sum of N130,000,000.00 only allocated to each polytechnic has the main focus of procurement, Installation, Testing, Training and commissioning of relevant training materials," he said.

Mika’Ilu further disclosed that TETFund had allocated a total sum of N52,046,079,584.7 as zonal Intervention to enlisted polytechnics since its inception of the Zonal Intervention in 2016. 

"In the year 2017, the Fund focused the Zonal intervention on the “Student Dignity Project”. Hence, the intervention was used to upgrade and standardise all lavatory facilities or provision of new ones where necessary in academic areas of institutions, also shuttle buses (coaches) were also procured for students’ use among other projects.

"Most recently, the 2022 intervention was used for the deployment of ICT facilities within the institutions in line with the guidelines developed by the Fund. This is essentially, to increase the capacities of institutions to function effectively and deliver their programmes online.

"The Fund has allocated a total of N60,290,000,000.00 for Zonal Intervention for the year 2023 to all the two hundred and nineteen beneficiary institutions of which, the sum of N9,230,000,000.00 is allocated to polytechnics,” he added.

He noted  that the intervention, a post-research activity, had given academic staff members in Science and Technology Programs the chance to construct equipment, supporting the development of abilities at Polytechnics.

Mika'Ilu expressed hope that, in the long run, the intervention will help the institution revive skills and increase graduate employability.

In his remarks, Sonny Echono, executive secretary of the TETFund, gave rectors of polytechnics instructions to investigate cutting-edge ways to skill development and to produce practical solutions that would improve the standard and significance of technical education in the institutions.

According to Echono, entrepreneurship and skill development are integral parts of a holistic process by which people in society pursue opportunities and meet demands.

However, he stated that developing skills helps people overcome a variety of obstacles and positions them for employment in various areas of the economy, as well as creating a more promising future for both the country and the person in the face of international competition.

"Today, we recognise the significant strides made by TETFund and NBTE in promoting skills development in our beneficiary polytechnics.

"Our unwavering commitment to advancing technical and vocational education has paved the way for countless success stories, empowering individuals and transforming communities across our great nation.

"The purpose of this sensitisation workshop is to discuss and enlighten participants on two key areas: One is the skills agenda and occupational areas as a panacea for gainful employment of graduates and the second is the formalisation of the informal skills sector.

"By focusing on these aspects, we aim to address the critical needs for aligning our educational system with the demands of the labour market,” he said.

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