Auchi Poly makes history, graduates first NSQ students in Nigeria

The Rector of Auchi Polytechnic, Dr Salusi Shehu Umar has said the Polytechnic has graduated 6,600 students from the federal government newly introduced National Skills Qualification (NSQ) initiative program.

Dr Umar who disclosed this over the weekend during the maiden graduation ceremony held at the school’s Auditorium, said the Polytechnic is the first in the country to implement the programme.

He said the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) is a federal government initiative being implemented by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

According to him, the programme’s primary objective is to equip beneficiaries with practical skills and thereby boosting the employability of the country’s working population both locally and internationally.

He said other nations have been running the dual certification programs for some time, but Nigeria has just begun. He added that Auchi Polytechnic is the first institution to implement the initiative in the country.

The Rector also disclosed that the school run the program through the Centre for Innovation and Skills Acquisition (CISA) in collaboration with the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CEDAP), saying that the training is mandatory for ND and HND students and also interested individuals amongst the general public.

While encouraging eligible young men and women to take advantage of the government laudable initiative to acquire double certificate in any of the skills of choice available in the polytechnic, the Rector noted that at the completion of both ND and HND, the student would have completed not less than NSQ6 which is HND/BSc equivalent.

He also stated further that the program offers about sixty-one different skills which includes automobile mechanic, cosmetology, computer hardware maintenance, electrical installation, photography and cinematography, plumbing and piping, welding and fabrication, refrigerator and air conditioner repairs, food and beverage production, leather works, traditional medicare practice, furniture making, solar system installation, paint production, fish farming practice etc.

The Rector however appealed to the Federal Ministry of Education to approve the skills Acquisition Centre to a Grade A status under the Technical and Vocational Education Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education.

“With the NBTE mandate that polytechnics should train quality assurance assessor, Auchi Polytechnic has complied by training and graduating over 96 assessors,

“Having completed your intensive training in your preferred fields of specialization and being certified, you will receive the National Skills Acquisition certificate to be issued by the National Bussiness and Technical Education Board (NABTEB)”, he explained.

While congratulating the graduads for their diligence and resilience, the Rector urged them to effectively apply the skills acquired to generate wealth, to improve their employment potential and increase their industrial productivity for enhanced national economic growth.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of the Governing Council Prof. Jonathan M. Ayuba who was represented by the Dean, School of General Studies, Mr. Okwilague Abdulai Osivue said the National Skills Qualification Framework is to close the gap between learning and doing.

He said the certificate is more than paper as it is a national proof that they possess the competence, the attitude and practical ability to do the job and do it well.

“Nigeria’s future will not be built on certificates alone, rather it will be built on welders, electricians, fashion designers, caterers, plumbers, ICT technicians, auto mechanics and agro-processors”, he added.

He thanked the Rector for aligning the polytechnic with the National Skills policy and for providing the workshop trainers and assessment that made the programme a success.