Owojori, NBTE Lead Skills Acquisition Workshop to Prepare Ayede Poly Staff for New Certification Programme
As part of efforts to strengthen skills-based education and improve graduates’ employability, the Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Oyo State, has trained its academic and non-academic staff on the implementation of the National Skills Qualification (NSQ), Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and Mandatory Skills Qualification (MSQ).
The workshop, held at the Centre for Vocational, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (CVSAED), NDE Model Skills Centre, Onipaanu, Ogbomoso, was organised in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and JACL Consulting, Akure, Ondo State.
The institution had earlier organised a similar programme for students as part of efforts to prepare both staff and learners for the implementation of the Federal Government’s skills-based education policy.
Declaring the workshop open, the Acting Rector, Engr. Dr. Mrs. Temilola Morufat Adepoju, appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Hon. Yakubu Dati, and the Federal Government for their continued support for the institution.
She also commended the Executive Secretary of the NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, for driving reforms in technical education, as well as the pioneer Rector of the Polytechnic, Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed, and other pioneer principal officers for laying a solid foundation for the institution.
According to Adepoju, the National Skills Qualifications Framework provides a credible system for recognising occupational knowledge, practical skills and competencies required in different sectors of the economy.
She said the framework would help bridge the gap between education and industry by producing graduates with relevant skills capable of addressing unemployment and contributing to national development.
“The NSQ provides the compass we desperately need as a nation seeking to equip its workforce with relevant competencies for national growth and global competitiveness,” she said.
In his welcome address, the Acting Director of the Centre for Vocational, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (CVSAED), Mr. Oluwaseun Owojori, said the workshop was organised to expose members of staff to the implementation of the NSQ, NSQF and MSQ in line with NBTE guidelines.
Owojori appreciated the Acting Rector, management, principal officers and participants for supporting the programme. He also thanked the resource persons, Dr. John Onyebuchi, Acting Director, South-West Zone of the NBTE, and Dr. Julius Ayodele of JACL Consulting, for accepting the institution’s invitation.
Owojori, a lecturer in the Department of Business Administration and Management, School of Management Sciences, is an entrepreneurship specialist with interests in innovation, digitalisation, sustainable entrepreneurship and small business development.
He has worked in the public and private sectors, including banking, insurance, consultancy and academia. In 2023, he was inducted as a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Social Media Analysts (NISMA) and appointed a member of the institute’s Governing Council in recognition of his contributions to digital communication and entrepreneurship.
Speaking on the theme of the workshop, Dr. John Onyebuchi urged participants to embrace skills acquisition, describing practical skills as an important tool for economic growth and self-reliance.
“I encourage everyone to acquire a skill because skills are the driving force in today’s economy, not money,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr. Julius Ayodele encouraged both academic and non-academic staff to enrol in skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes to improve their competencies and career prospects.
He expressed optimism that the workshop would encourage greater participation in entrepreneurship activities within the Polytechnic.
The workshop was attended by principal officers of the institution, including the Registrar, Mr. Akinlolu Akinpade, represented by the Director of SERVICOM and Deputy Registrar (Council Affairs and Establishment), Mr. Gafari Kolapo Olatinwo; the Bursar, Mr. Mufutau Alao, represented by Deputy Bursar, Mr. Lukman Buari; and the Acting Polytechnic Librarian, Mr. Dare Samuel Adeleke, represented by Dr. Mrs. Halimat Amuda, Coordinator of Women in Technical Education and Development (WITED).
The workshop formed part of the Polytechnic’s ongoing efforts to implement the National Skills Qualification Framework and strengthen practical and entrepreneurial education across its programmes.
