NBTE Proposes N1.5bn Funding for Local Production in Polytechnics

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has proposed funding between N1 billion and N1.5 billion for each polytechnic in Nigeria to establish production lines as part of its One Product, One Polytechnic (1P1P) initiative. Prof. Idris Bugaje, the Director-General of NBTE, announced this during a strategic session in Abuja organized by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in collaboration with the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisations (WAITRO).

The initiative aims for each polytechnic to manufacture at least one product locally, addressing Nigeria's reliance on foreign imports for simple items. Bugaje emphasized the need for stronger connections between technical education and industry, advocating for industry-led curriculum reviews and improved practical training.

He also mentioned ongoing amendments to the Polytechnic Act to allow polytechnics to award Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) Honours degrees. Other stakeholders, including Dr. Benjin Luo from WAITRO, highlighted the importance of academia-industry collaboration for technology transfer.