The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced on Friday that President Bola Tinubu has approved the conversion of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in Lagos into a full-fledged university. The announcement was made during a working visit to the college, where the minister shared the exciting news with staff, students, and the management of the institution.
The conversion of YABATECH into a university marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s educational landscape, particularly in the areas of technical and vocational education. The development was met with cheers and excitement from those present at the event, especially as it reflects the government’s commitment to improving higher education and providing more opportunities for Nigerian youths.
Dr. Alausa expressed his confidence that YABATECH is more than ready for university status, highlighting that the college has long been an institution of high academic standards. He pointed out that the college already boasts over 200 staff members with doctorate degrees across various fields, a testament to the institution’s academic strength and research capability.
“The rector said some minutes ago that the staff, students, and management of the college have been praying and fasting that it be converted to a university. Somehow, you have kind of ambushed me, but I must let you know that when I discussed the issue with President Bola Tinubu, he did not waste time in approving it,” said Alausa, as he addressed the gathering. He added that he was now only waiting for the formal approval memo and necessary protocols to be completed.
Dr. Alausa credited President Tinubu for his swift approval of the conversion, stating, “This school is a legacy, and with over 200 staff members holding doctorate degrees in various fields, it is more than ready and fit to become a university. All the credit about this should go to the president, who loves education and is concerned about giving the best to the youths who are our future leaders.”
During his visit, Alausa also highlighted the federal government’s commitment to supporting technical and vocational education (TVET) in Nigeria. He explained that the Tinubu administration is focused on fostering innovation and technological development to help Nigerian youth thrive, both within the country and on the global stage.
“We are not taking the issue of artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, and others with levity. We know that if our youths are good at those things, they can be in Nigeria and be working for firms in many parts of the world, and they will be earning foreign exchange. That will help stem this Japa of a thing, where people would travel abroad to do menial jobs,” he said, referring to the phenomenon of Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad in low-wage sectors, often known as the ‘Japa Syndrome.’
Dr. Alausa highlighted that the focus of the current administration is to shift away from producing graduates who are solely interested in white-collar jobs. Instead, the government is keen on prioritizing education that fosters innovation, manufacturing, and technological advancement—fields that would contribute to a more robust private sector and ultimately help drive national growth and development.
“For over three decades, Nigeria abandoned technical and vocational education and focused on producing graduates who are always after white-collar jobs, but that focus has now changed,” Alausa noted. “In Europe and other places, the focus has been on incorporating TVET to become a core aspect of their education system, and that is what we are doing now.”
The rector of YABATECH, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, also spoke during the event, highlighting the college’s readiness and qualifications to become a university. He explained that the college has been making significant strides in providing quality education and training to students, with its over 200 PhD holders in service being a clear reflection of its academic capabilities.
“While we are praying that we become a university, we don’t want to become just one of those universities. We want to be a university of technical and vocational education that would bring innovation and also solve societal problems and challenges and contribute greatly to the advancement of our dear country,” said Abdul. He stressed that YABATECH has the required manpower, and with the support of the government, it could become a university that leads in both research and practical solutions for Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
Dr. Abdul also took the opportunity to outline some of the achievements of his administration, stating that YABATECH had made great progress in various areas, particularly in improving facilities and infrastructure. He assured the public that the management would not rest on its laurels but would continue to raise the bar for academic excellence.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of YABATECH, Prof. Funso Afolabi, also expressed his gratitude to Dr. Alausa for visiting the institution and acknowledged the importance of the conversion process. He used the occasion to appeal for continued government support to ensure that the college’s ambitions are fully realized.
“We appreciate the minister for visiting us today and for the good news he has shared with us,” said Prof. Afolabi. “We are hopeful that with the support of the government, we can continue to make significant contributions to Nigeria’s educational system and development.”
The process to formally convert YABATECH into a university will involve the passage of a bill in the National Assembly, which will outline the new status and name of the institution. Once passed, the bill will be forwarded to President Tinubu for final assent, completing the necessary legal steps for the transition.
As the process moves forward, all eyes will be on the National Assembly, where the bill for YABATECH’s transformation will soon be debated. Once passed, Nigeria will have a new university that is poised to contribute significantly to the advancement of the country’s educational and technological landscape.
