From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Kaduna Polytechnic has remained a vital centre for technical education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and professional excellence, producing graduates who have shaped industries, strengthened institutions, and contributed to public life.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State made this known at the 70th anniversary of the polytechnic and its combined convocation ceremony, which was held at the Tudun Wada Main campus on Saturday.
An alumnus of Kaduna Polytechnic, the institution conferred on the Governor its prestigious Fellowship Award, an honor he described ‘’not merely as a personal recognition, but as an affirmation of the collective commitment of the Kaduna State Government to educational advancement, youth empowerment, and institutional renewal.’’
According to the Governor, his administration places a lot of emphasis on technical education as ‘’ no society can attain sustainable development without investing deliberately in knowledge, skills, and innovation.’’
‘’ In today’s rapidly evolving global economy, technical and vocational education has become indispensable to industrialization, agricultural transformation, digital innovation, and national competitiveness,’’ he added.
Governor Uba Sani said that ‘’polytechnics must therefore occupy a central place in our development strategy. They are not peripheral institutions; they are engines of productivity, enterprise, and human capital formation.’’
He disclosed that the Kaduna State Government continues to prioritize investment in education at all levels, adding that ‘’ our administration is currently sponsoring 775 students in various programs at Kaduna Polytechnic. ‘’
‘’This intervention reflects our determination to remove financial barriers and ensure that talented young people, regardless of background, can acquire the skills necessary to contribute meaningfully to society,’’ he maintained.
The Governor further said that his administration has ‘’established three Institutes of Vocational Training and Skills Development located at Rigachikun, Samaru Kataf, and Soba.’’
These institutes, which are more equipped than most Universities of Science and Technology in the country, are certified by the National Board for Technical Education as among the best-equipped skills development hubs in Nigeria,’’ he disclosed.
According to him, the Institutes are deliberately designed to prepare young people for the rapidly evolving global economy as they offer specialized training in welding, solar technology, information technology, and artificial intelligence.
‘’ Through these interventions, we are positioning Kaduna State as a national hub of technical excellence while addressing the persistent skills gap that has constrained local economic growth and industrial productivity,’’ he added.
