The Chairman of the Governing Council of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Prof. Funso Isolaowa Afolabi, has called on leaders of Nigeria’s polytechnics and colleges of technology to deepen collaboration, embrace innovation, and strengthen institutional governance as critical steps towards repositioning technical and vocational education for national development.
He spoke in his address at the 162nd Regular Meeting of the Council of Heads of Colleges of Technology and Allied Institutions (COHEADS).
The meeting was hosted by Yaba College of Technology in Lagos.
Welcoming participants from across the country on behalf of the Governing Council, Management, Academic Board, staff, students, and the entire YABATECH community, the Council Chairman described the gathering as a timely platform for dialogue, policy formulation, collaboration and the exchange of innovative ideas among institutional leaders committed to advancing technical education in Nigeria.
According to Afolabi, the nation’s tertiary technical education sector is currently confronted with numerous challenges, including funding constraints, rapid technological advancement, quality assurance concerns, graduate employability and the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, stressing that only collective action and stronger institutional partnerships can effectively address these realities.
He commended the growing call for greater collaboration among Nigerian institutions, noting that while many institutions actively pursue international partnerships, equal attention should be given to building robust local collaborations capable of driving research, innovation, knowledge sharing and sustainable national development.
“We must continue to strengthen collaboration, promote excellence in governance, embrace innovation and ensure that our graduates possess the knowledge, skills, values and entrepreneurial competencies required to thrive in today’s dynamic global economy,” he stated.
He reaffirmed YABATECH’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, research, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, inclusive partnerships and character development, adding that the institution would continue to support initiatives that improve the quality, relevance and global competitiveness of technical and professional education in Nigeria.
He also applauded the leadership of COHEAD for sustaining an important platform that promotes professional engagement, strategic policy dialogue and collective problem-solving within the nation’s technical education ecosystem.
Afolabi urged delegates to take advantage of the deliberations to exchange experiences, identify practical solutions to common institutional challenges and formulate recommendations that would strengthen technical institutions and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
In his welcome address, the Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul, described the hosting of the COHEAD meeting as a privilege for Nigeria’s foremost institution of technical and technological education.
Engr. Abdul noted that since its establishment in 1947, YABATECH has remained committed to producing skilled, innovative and industry-ready graduates capable of driving Nigeria’s technological and economic advancement.
He observed that the meeting came at a critical period when institutions must collectively respond to emerging challenges, including digital transformation, industry relevance, and the demands of a knowledge-based economy.
He stressed that the time had come for institutions to regard one another as collaborators rather than competitors, urging members of COHEAD to strengthen local partnerships, jointly organise conferences and research exhibitions, share best practices and develop collective solutions to national challenges.
According to him, Nigerian institutions have continued to pursue international collaborations, yet greater benefits could be realised through stronger cooperation among local institutions.
He reaffirmed YABATECH’s commitment to producing graduates who are technically competent, entrepreneurially minded and globally competitive, while calling on stakeholders to collectively address concerns about graduate employability through deliberate reforms in technical education.
