The Rector, Yaba College of Technology, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, has called for adequate support for technical and technological education championed by polytechnics in Nigeria to boost research and infrastructural development.

Abdul, who made the plea while addressing members of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education during their oversight function to the college, commended the government for setting up a separate committee to look into polytechnics and higher technical education in the country, saying the gesture will enhance technological development in the polytechnic system.

He noted that despite the critical status of the sector, it is being underrated and marginalised.

The rector pointed out that the challenges facing HND holders is a reflection of happenings in the sub-sector. He identified issues of funding, dichotomy, need to award Bachelor of Technology as some of the challenges threatening the development of polytechnic education.

He prayed the committee to help in proffering lasting solutions to the challenges facing the sub-sector.
In his keynote address, the committee chairman, Wahab Laguda, explained that the visit was to deliberate on how to make the sub-sector better, and work on things that comes to the team as marginalisation.
Laguda said the committee is aware of many challenges facing the polytechnic community from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) sharing formula to insecurity in some areas, which invariably affects enrolment.

The team urged the institution’s management to cooperate with the group by allowing members to see things the way they are.

They, however, advised the management to beef up the school’s workshops and laboratories to become an industrial training centre for their graduating students, and not allow the discrimination to affect how they run the system.