Govt policies stifling polytechnic education, says Ekwere

Founder of Dorben Polytechnic in Abuja, Dr. Akpan Ekwere, has expressed concerns that certain education policies implemented by the Federal Government are having a detrimental impact on polytechnic education in Nigeria 

The renowned educationist and US-trained accountant voiced concerns that the government has neglected polytechnic education, abandoning the original vision of the polytechnic system’s founders

Ekwere said he had singlehandedly trained 76 chattered accounts after their HND from Dorben Polytechnic, a first-generation private polytechnic in the country. 

He spoke just as the institution emerged winner in the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma categories of the National Practical Competition, organised by the Committee of Deans of Engineering of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology (COMPODET) during the 32nd Engineering Assembly, held in Abuja.

Ekwere particularly picked holes in the new policy of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that permits polytechnic graduates to join professional associations before being eligible for mobilisation in the one-year mandatory scheme of the Federal Government.

He noted that the government’s lack of recognition and support for polytechnic education, as evident in certain unfavorable policies, has had a detrimental effect on the career prospects and opportunities of polytechnic graduates.

Ekwere, who was visibly elated over the feat recorded by his school, however, regretted that despite several interventions by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, NYSC has not rescinded its decision which he noted, were against polytechnic education.

Speaking to reporters shortly after a ceremony held for the official presentation of the winners and certificates of the competition to the Dorben Polytechnic Governing Board at the institution’s council chamber, Ekwere said, “I’m very happy, extremely happy and proud that I have achieved the purpose God called me to this assignment.

“As a proprietor, to just sit down and watch your students going out to compete in a nation and return with trophies, I feel so good. I am very happy and I would be praying for them.

“This achievement is very important to me because for us to get first position with all the federal and state polytechnics all around, I’m very happy.”

He called on the government to allow polytechnics to thrive to fulfill the technical manpower needs of the nation.

He said: “The Executive Secretary of NBTE has been fighting a lone battle, that the government should recognize the position of polytechnics in this country, that we (polytechnics) are technical institutions training these children to man the technical manpower of this nation.

“We are the pivot of educational development of this nation. But when someone graduates from a polytechnic, they would say we won’t employ him because he doesn’t have a degree, it doesn’t make sense. The important thing is that can they do the job?

“Polytechnics are practical oriented, that is why polytechnics are all out for practical oriented technologies. Entrepreneurship, that is what we are doing now.  They just sit down there because they passed through university and they want everybody to pass through the university. How on earth can everybody in a nation pass through university and they don’t have the practical knowledge?”

He earlier received the victorious students: Isaiah Bassey and Ekong Samuel, both of Cross River and Akwa Ibom State origins, and congratulated them on their outstanding achievement. 

During the event, the students who showcased exceptional skills and dedication were hailed and handsomely rewarded as champions in the field of Engineering and Technology Innovations.