As the Federal Government of Nigeria is upgrading some Polytechnics to University status, the Rector of Kaduna Polytechnic has a different notion. While speaking with newsmen in Kaduna, Prof. Idris Bugaje, the Rector of KADPOLY urges the Federal Government to follow the example showed by China.
“China three months ago converted 160 Universities to Polytechnics so that they will provide the middle-level manpower to move the Chinese economy forward. But at the moment we have more universities than polytechnics, so we are doing it in the reverse order in this country.
“For every university, there should be nothing less than five polytechnics so that we can support the engineers. An engineer is trained to design, but who implements the design and brings it into reality? Who does the fabrication, commission and installation of every plant? Is it not the technologists? So, we need more technologists than engineers.” He stated.
Bugaje stated that he is not against the government’s move to convert polytechnics to universities but he would like KADPOLY to maintain its normal tradition of awarding ND and HND to proceed.
It is recall that the Federal Government recently scrapped the award of Higher National Diploma (HND) Certificates by Polytechnics. The decision was reached on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.
Olamide George is a graduate of Mass Communication from Olabisi Onabajo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State Nigeria; she writes and reports for Campusbiz Journal. Reach me via olamide@campusbiz.com.ng
