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By Sylvester Thompson

Proprietors of Private Polytechnics, under the aegis of the Association of Private Polytechnics in Nigeria (APPN), have called on the government to pay attention to technical education in the country.

Dr Benjamin Achiatar, President of the APPN, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

“Government should pay attention and support private sector education because technical education is instrumental in making a remarkable contribution to nation building through skilled manpower and enhancing productivity.

“A skilled technical workforce attracts investment and supports industries that drive economic development.

“Not only does it drive industrialisation, a nation’s technical capabilities can improve its standing in the global market,’’ he said.

Achiatar added that technical education encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills which are important for innovation.

He said the government promised to grow the private sector, and that Private Polytechnics represent private sector education.

According to him, if the government makes the private sector grow, it will lead to growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“We pay taxes, hence we are seeking support in infrastructure deficits like power, whether solar, generators or transformers and also water supply through boreholes,’’ he said.

Achiatar appealed that the National Research Fund should also be open to all who have creative ideas and innovations, not just government institutions.

“Government institutions and functionaries should make themselves available for dialogue with us for meaningful progress to produce needed technical manpower to drive Nigeria’s industrialisation.

“I want to add that other countries like China are converting universities to polytechnics to fire their industries.

“ If we do not pay attention to education in technology, we will continue to be importing products from other countries and paying them money, growing their economies,’’ Achiatar said.

Also speaking, Olusola Alalade, General Secretary of the APPN said that if Polytechnics can offer degree courses and award B.Tech (Hons), it would serve the system better.

“That means polytechnics can provide a workforce for the middle level, for industries, while a small percentage can also be involved in advanced academic activities like research among others,’’ he said.

Alalade, who is the Proprietor of Igbaja Polytechnic, said that research grants provided by Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) to universities should also be made available to private polytechnics.

He urged the Federal Government to also extend the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) loans to students in private institutions.

“The fund should cover both students in public and private institutions because we are all in the same market, and all are students of the government.

“Everybody should be given equal opportunity by allowing all students to be covered in the programme,’’ he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

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Muhyideen Jimoh

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