The Rector of Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Oyo State, Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed (FNSE), has called on polytechnics across Africa to prioritize Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) in their academic programmes.
Speaking at a conference held at Cocoa Ocean Hotel Beach in The Gambia, and jointly organized by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and Gambia University, Dr. Abdul-Hameed emphasized the urgent need for a shift from certificate-focused education to practical, skills-based training.
He stated that most polytechnic graduates continue to face unemployment due to a curriculum that emphasizes paper qualifications over hands-on experience. “We must be innovative, intentional, and flexible in our curriculum to strengthen entrepreneurship. Focusing on skills acquisition will serve as a catalyst for job creation,” he said.
The Rector stressed that graduates of polytechnics should be prepared to become job creators rather than job seekers.
Dr. Abdul-Hameed also praised the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, for aligning educational reforms with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in strengthening the skilled workforce needed to boost economic growth and innovation in Nigeria.
He commended the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, for championing industry-aligned curricula, and acknowledged the efforts of TETFund under Arc. Sonny Echono for supporting technical and vocational education through capacity-building and infrastructure development.
Other notable participants at the international conference included the Vice Chancellor of the Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB), Prof. Buratai; Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, NAUB, Prof. Kolawole Subair; and the university’s Registrar, Brig.-Gen. Abdulhamid, among others.
