The Rector, Engr. Dr. Francisca Nwafulugo, recently played host to the South East zonal officers of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The six zonal offices in Nigeria as contained in the statement of mandate given to the zones, are strictly the administrative arms of the NBTE which are not meant to interfere with the day-to-day administration of the host institutions.
The zonal Director, Engr. Dr. Jonathan Ukpai who explained this at Rector’s office during the familiarization and advocacy visit further disclosed that the Minister for Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu approved the citing of the six zonal offices of the NBTE in 2021.
The zonal offices, according to him, was to propagate and foster the NBTE mandates and skills development.
According to him, “the mandates of the zonal offices were to conduct visitations in the zone as may be directed by headquarters including advocacy with stakeholders in the zone to promote skills training and linkages of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions with industries.
“The zonal offices should engage government at all levels and the organized Private sector to promote skills training and upgrade of Technical Colleges to offer further training as well as facilitate training at zonal levels for Polytechnics and other TVET institutions and Up-Skilling of staff among others.
Responding, the Rector, Engr. Nwafulugo expressed joy that the Polytechnic regulatory body is now closer to the institutions, adding that the proximity will promote collaboration and give proper attention to the yearnings of the Polytechnics.
The Rector however, commended the NBTE for approving about 60 programmes for the Polytechnic during the 2019 and 2021 accreditation exercise held in the Polytechnic.
She also stated that the Polytechnic recently, signed MoU with Innoson Vehicles on staff training and skills acquisition which is in line with the NBTE mandates to the zone.
The Administrative Officer, NBTE, Enugu zone, Mr. Gabriel Ikeluwa, deans and directors from Federal Polytechnic Oko were all present during the courtesy visit.
