POLYTECHNIC rectors are basking in the euphoria of the new set of modern equipment supplied recently to their respective institutions by the Federal Government, through the National Board for technical Education (NBTE). They are confident that with the new facilities, their students will now receive better training, in tune with global standards.The federal government had recently undertaken the supply of modern equipment worth N12.5 billion to 51 polytechnics and monotechnics across the country, to replace the widely acknowledged obsolete gadgets in them.Education Minister, Professor Ruquyyatu Rufai had, during a recent assessment visit to Kaduna Polytechnic said: 'following the signing of an Aide Memoire between the Federal Government and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2000, the NBTE and UNESCO embarked on the review of the existing and new curricula of programmes offered by our Polytechnics and Monotecnics, to bring them in line with the needs of modern industry, along internationally accepted standards'The basic thrust of the need for modern equipment was predicated on the fact that scientific advances, technological changes and innovations have become the hallmark of the economic performance of any country. The ability to harness the potential of new scientific and technical knowledge and diffuse such knowledge widely have become a major source of competitive advantage, wealth creation and improvement in the quality of life'.Rufai had also explained that the first phase of the current effort was carried out in 2005 when equipment were supplied to six Federal Polytechnics and 102 Federal Unity Schools, under the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) sponsorship, while the second phase was implemented in 2007, when workshop and laboratory equipment were supplied to 62 tertiary institutions (Colleges of Education, Technical).The Minister however averred that the current phase was expected to provide the full complement of TVET equipment in the institutions, in line with NBTE's accreditation requirements'.A visit by a media team and officials of the NBTE to the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin; Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu; Auchi Polytechnic and Kaduna Polytechnic revealed that the equipment supplied were being installed, while the training of students on how to use them has commenced in two of them.The Rectors who spoke with journalists affirmed that the new modern equipment would go a long way to enhance training and improve the chances of providing the country's manpower needs.Kwara State Polytechnic's Rector, Alhaji Mas'ud Elewu said: 'I think the Government is now hitting the nail on the head. In the past, many governments had been paying lip service to technological revolution. But now, this government has come in through the NBTE) to make a very serious impact on the economy. The products of our institutions will now have the opportunity to have hands-on training, where they can practicalize those things they were taught in theory.On the impact the new training equipment would have on the industrial transformation of the nation, Elewu pointed out: 'once our students who are being trained go through these new technological facilities, it then becomes easier for them to adapt to the new technology all over the country.'It will now draw the kind of technological revolution which we are expecting in this country closer to us. Students can now see the kind of things they would expect to develop upon when they go out. Once they are able to create something from what they have seen, you are developing the country and economy, and you are developing technological-wise.'The hand-sets that we use presently are Asian technology. Nobody thought that the Asians would come up so early. But, with some of these equipment and facilities the government is giving us to train our students, they will begin to see the principles behind this new technology and what is being done in other places.'On whether the current power supply problem facing Nigeria today would not frustrate the ambition of government on the herculean task of industrialization,Elewu said that part of the technological equipment supplied for the training of students areHis words: 'If you go round our main campus, particularly our round-about, you will see that both our students and staff have mounted solar panels around the vicinity. They (panels) are giving us light. What we are planning now is to ensure that all the street lights on the main campus are supplied through solar energy. And we want to go further by telling the state government that henceforth if they are giving contract for solar street light we are ready to pick it up.'So, the new equipment for the training of our students on solar energy is a big advantage to us. And with this power failure in our country, the new equipment will help train our students to take up the challenges of manufacturing solar panels for domestic consumption, and that is what we call entrepreneurship'.He continued: 'Once they leave our institution, they will not find it difficult in getting themselves together for self-employment.But, he sounded a warning to the Federal Government to ensure that there is provision for the maintenance of the equipment supplied to the tertiary institutions in order to keep them alive.Specifically, Elewu pointed out that the tradition of not properly employing maintenance culture for facilities and equipments in the country may be an inhibition to the lofty objectives of Government, while adding that 'spare parts must also be made available for the new equipment as at when due'.The Rectors of LASPOTECH, Dr. Abdulazeez Abiole Lawal and Auchi Polytechnic, Mrs Phillipia Omamhe Idogho shared the Elewu's views. They agreed that with the present level of facilities available in the tertiary institutions across the country, Nigeria has already commenced the journey towards industrial revolution.Lawal said: 'if you look at the various institutions in Nigeria today, especially those that are technological oriented, you will find out that most of the equipment there are obsolete. We have been making use of obsolete equipment to train our students in the past and this will have a negative impact on the ability of employers to actually recruit them. And these employers will eventually retrain them in line with the modern facilities. But, if you look at the recent equipment provided by the Federal Government through the NBTE, you will realize that they are state of the art equipment.'The facilities are relevant to the current needs of our environment. This means that we have positioned ourselves in a situation where we will be able to assist the industry and the environment. They will not incur the cost of training again, because these facilities are up to date.'If you look at the modern world today, we have moved in terms of technology. And most of the equipment that we use in the higher institutions before the coming of these new ones, were not relevant to the current needs. But with the present equipment supplied by the NBTE, then it means we are ready to face the future challenges'.He continued: 'Already, we had series of training and retraining programmes for our lecturers, who are going to handle the equipment. Recently, the NBTE mandated us to run a training programme so that they would be able to incorporate these equipment and even assist the public, because the equipments are modern ones that would need the training of even the existing lecturers which we have done'.'It will enable us to impact the required skills and knowledge on our students. 'Unlike before, what we were impacting was not up to the standard that would enable these students cope with the current challenges of the global environment.On plans by the Management of LAPOSTECH to preserve the equipment supplied by Government to the institution, the Rector said that the Polytechnic has decided to build a metaltronic workshop, worth about N56 million.He stated: 'We looked at the worth of the equipment supplied by the Federal Government in determining the structure where to keep them. The equipment cost about 600 million naira. For us to protect, secure and effectively use the equipment, we need befitting workshop'.The Auchi Polytechnic Rector, Idogho, who also spoke on the upgrading of the institution with the modern engineering equipment, said that the move by the government was timely. She explained: technology in industry now is changing globally and we must key into the current trend'.According to the Rector, Auchi Polytechnic which was established in 1963 and is one of the oldest institutions in Nigeria, with a mission of being ICT driven.She added: 'The coming of these equipments is timely for our students because the industry now is changing they are no longer using those obsolete equipment we have in the training of our students for production lines. They are now using new technology, digital and computer-driven equipment in the industrial sector world-wide, so with these latest models, I believe they would have great impact in the training of our students, so that when they are out to work, what obtains in the industry today will no longer be new to them.
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