Company boss tasks government on polytechnic studies

Managing Director, Lagos state Water Corporation, Muminu Adekunle Badmus has tasked government and stakeholders to come up with a clear cut policy on polytechnic education saying this is only way to make the country relevant among the committee of nations in terms of technological advancement.

Badmus in his lecture at the 11th convocation of Lagos City Polytechnic (LCP) deplored government’s poor handling of polytechnic education and called for an urgent review in line with global challenges.

About 388 graduands were conferred with the Higher National Diploma (HND) degree from the school of Engineering and Applied Sciences as well as Business and Management studies while 312 others conferred with National Diploma (ND)

The company boss in his lecture titled, “Enhancing the standard of Technical and vocational skills in tertiary institutions in Nigeria,” lamented that government has continued to neglect polytechnic education while increasing subventions to universities.

He said, “Presently, the countries in the world are grappling with unemployment problem which keeps rising daily. According to ILO’s World Employment and Social Outlook, the global unemployment figure for 2017 is above 200 million. From the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 70 percent of 80million youths are either unemployed or underemployed. This can be attributed to the fact that the youths are running away from technical or vocational training that could be acquired from polytechnics. The only way to widen the employment net and make our youths not only economically independent, but employers of labour, is by enhancing the standard of polytechnic education.

“Presently, the youths that are seeking admission into higher institutions prefer universities to polytechnics. From my personal experience, I have seen many polytechnics graduates that are better than their university counterparts particularly in engineering, accounting, and other disciplines.

Badmus expressed regrets that government has continually neglected polytechnic education in terms of funding and policy formulation, which he said has hindered the desired economic development.

As a way out of the nation’s economic doldrums, Badmus called for a review of our vocational education for improved productivity.

“No doubt, in the new economic environment, technical education is expected to produce an educated, skilled, and motivated workforce that will use specific skills to drive the country’s economy to greater heights. With the current trend of accelerated development globally, we can no longer hinge our educational advancement on mere policies without pragmatic approach.

On his part, chairman, governing council of the institution, Babatunde Odufuwa who described education as key to national development said the natural resources and accumulated capital of the nation would invariably remain dormant unless its human resources are adequately developed and utilized.

He enjoined the graduands not to rest on their oars but imbibe the culture of continuous learning to make them useful citizens.

“LCP has equipped each graduand with skills, values and attitudes necessary to become effective producers, consumers and good citizens in a democratic society. It is now up to you to rise up to the challenges; to see road blocks as stepping stones, to see problems as opportunities; to be stronger and see the sky not as your limit but as your starting point into the entire universe. Therefore, my charge to those who are entering the world of work is to be worthy ambassadors of not only your families but also of LCP.”

Deputy Governor of Lagos state, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Education District 1, Yinka Ayandele, lauded the institution for its technological drive and contribution to the growth of polytechnic education in the country.