By our reporter
The call was made by Engr. Dr. Temitope John Alake during the 27th Inaugural Lecture at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, held on Thursday at the Atiku Abubakar Auditorium. The lecture, organised under the Professor Edward Kanu Obiakor Lecture Series, was titled “The Nexus Between Electronic Engineering and National Development: The Imperative of Skills Acquisition Framework.”
Alake said polytechnic education required greater financial support because of its practical orientation, which demands laboratories, modern equipment and other facilities for effective skills development. He urged the government to increase the allocation available to polytechnics through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, to enable institutions provide industry-relevant training.
He said Nigeria’s technological development would remain limited if the country failed to develop local expertise in electronic engineering and related fields. According to him, strengthening local capacity in electronics, including semiconductor manufacturing, would reduce dependence on imported technology while creating opportunities for employment, innovation and industrial growth.
The lecturer also advocated stronger collaboration between polytechnics and industries through internships, apprenticeships, curriculum development and continuous professional development. He recommended a National Skills Qualification Framework that would align students’ competencies with industry requirements and international standards.
Alake further urged lecturers to constantly update their knowledge and expose students to emerging technologies and practical learning. He identified competency-based education, Centres of Excellence and innovation hubs as critical interventions for closing the skills gap in Nigeria’s engineering workforce.
The lecture attracted members of the institution’s governing council, lecturers, students, professional associations, rectors of other institutions and political leaders. The Chairman of the 12th Governing Council, Engineer Professor Ongoebi Maureen Etebu, described the lecture as enlightening, saying it provided useful insights into electronic engineering and its role in national development.