The Polytechnic, Ibadan has been selected by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) as one of only 18 public polytechnics nationwide to participate in a prestigious Quality Assurance Capacity-Building Programme for academic staff and Master Craft Persons (MCPs).
The institution announced the development during a comprehensive briefing held on Monday, November 24, 2025, at the 1000-Seater Hall within the school.The session, organised by the Skills Development Centre (SDC) of the institution, served as a preparatory engagement ahead of the commencement of the Quality Assurance Assessors (QAA) Training Programme supported by NBTE, TETFUND, and UNESCO.
Speaking on behalf of the Acting Rector, Dr. Taiwo Abideen Lasisi, his representative, Mr. Akeem Akinyemi, described the selection as a national recognition of the Polytechnic’s commitment to academic and technical excellence.
“Out of the 71 public polytechnics in Nigeria, only 18 were selected for this programme. We are honoured to be among them,” he stated.
“This selection reflects the confidence NBTE and TETFUND have in our institution’s capacity to drive quality improvement within the TVET ecosystem.”
Dr. Lasisi noted that the training aims to strengthen internal quality assurance practices, enhance curriculum delivery, improve assessment methods, and build a certified pool of assessors within the institution.
He emphasized that the programme aligns with the Federal Ministry of Education’s renewed focus on skills acquisition for all polytechnic students.
“The Polytechnic system is transitioning from certificate-driven to skills-driven education,” he said.
“With the full integration of National Skills Qualifications (NSQ) into the ND/HND curriculum, every graduate must now possess measurable and industry-aligned competencies. You cannot give what you do not have, hence the importance of this training.”
Director of the Skills Development Centre, QAA Bolaji Wakeel Abiodun delivered his briefing on the significance of the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and the specifics of the upcoming training.
He reiterated NBTE’s national agenda of promoting practical skill acquisition under the philosophy of “Skills, Not Degrees,” championed by NBTE Executive Secretary, Professor Idris Bugaje.
“The NSQF is designed to standardize and harmonize skills training across Nigeria,” he explained.
“It ensures that learners acquire verifiable, transferable skills aligned with global TVET standards. This training marks a major step toward repositioning The Polytechnic, Ibadan as a leading skills development institution.”
Bolaji outlined the two-phase structure of the QAA programme, beginning with virtual training on foundational NSQF concepts between November and December 2025. This will be followed by practical, field-based training in January 2026. Although 80 nominees were selected for the first phase, only the top 20 performers will advance to the advanced Units 2 and 3.
“This merit-based progression ensures fairness and excellence,” he said.
“All participants will receive appropriate certification for each level completed, but only the best will advance to become fully certified Quality Assurance Assessors.”
He also noted that these certifications are now recognised in both federal and state civil service schemes, and are increasingly crucial for academic promotions, programme accreditation, and institutional compliance with NBTE standards.
“The NBTE now mandates that every accredited programme must have NSQ-certified trainers, assessors, and verifiers,” he added.
“This training is not optional; it is an institutional requirement.”
The Registrar, Mr. Joseph Adewunmi Ogunjimi, and other principal officers were also present at the briefing.
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