The Nigerian Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has inspected TETFund-funded projects at the country's premier tertiary, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, as part of its oversight responsibilities to ascertain the level of implementation of projects and ensure accountability in the utilisation of intervention funds.
The delegation of the 10th National Assembly, led by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutshe, also interacted with the College management, staff and students during the inspection.
The exercise was aimed at assessing the impact of TETFund interventions in the College, examining how funds advanced for various projects had been utilised, identifying challenges confronting the institution and determining areas requiring further government intervention.
In his welcome address, the Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Engr. Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul, described the visit as a demonstration of the commitment of the National Assembly to the development of tertiary education and the physical and academic advancement of the country.
The Rector said the College remained committed to accountability and the judicious utilisation of resources provided through TETFund, noting that the inspection provided an opportunity to showcase the progress recorded through various TETFund-sponsored projects.
He, however, drew the attention of the committee to the peculiar infrastructural challenges confronting YABATECH, describing it as one of the most densely populated tertiary institutions in the country.
According to him, the College has about 35,400 students and more than 2,000 staff members operating within a relatively small land area, making conventional horizontal expansion almost impossible.
He explained that the situation had compelled the College to adopt a vertical development strategy involving multi-storey buildings to maximise its limited land space.
The Rector noted that, as the institution approaches its 80th anniversary next year, some of its facilities had become obsolete, having been constructed during the colonial era.
He said the College had therefore embarked on a strategic redevelopment programme involving the demolition of some old structures and the construction of modern multi-storey facilities.
Abdul also disclosed that YABATECH had adopted the policy of merging TETFund interventions across different years in order to execute projects of substantial value and quality capable of meeting the institution’s peculiar infrastructural needs.
He cited the conversion of spaces previously occupied by facilities such as the Rector’s Lodge for academic infrastructure as part of the College’s efforts to optimise its limited land.
The Rector further disclosed that the College had been experiencing intense demand for admission because of its strong reputation, adding that hundreds of prospective students had protested in the past over their inability to secure admission.
He explained that despite the huge demand, the College had to operate within the admission quota approved by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Abdul also informed the committee that the College was gradually developing another campus and had begun directing some infrastructural interventions towards the new location.
He said YABATECH was also expanding its skills-development programmes to equip young Nigerians with practical competencies beyond conventional National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programmes.
The Rector highlighted the College’s digital technology initiatives, stressing that skills development remained critical to addressing youth unemployment and preparing Nigerian students for the demands of the modern economy.
Speaking during the visit, members of the Senate Committee commended the management of YABATECH for its efforts in managing its large student population and limited physical space.
A member of the Committee, Senator Shuaibu Afolabi, urged the institution to complement its vertical physical expansion with greater investment in digital learning.
He advised YABATECH to explore remote learning centres and technology-enabled teaching platforms that would enable students to participate in academic activities without necessarily being physically present on campus.
He also encouraged the College to pursue stronger affiliations with reputable institutions around the world to facilitate knowledge exchange and expose students and staff to global best practices.
The senator said federal agencies with mandates relevant to technology and innovation could also be approached for additional interventions to complement TETFund funding.
He specifically encouraged the College to explore intervention opportunities from agencies and institutions involved in ICT, digital technology and innovation.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutshe, said the Committee’s visit was part of its constitutional responsibility to monitor the implementation of projects and ensure transparency and accountability in the utilisation of public funds.
Dandutshe said the Committee was also using the exercise to interact directly with tertiary institutions and understand the challenges affecting the delivery of quality education.
He expressed concern over the likely impact of declining revenue available for TETFund interventions, noting that discussions with relevant stakeholders indicated that the amount available for distribution to TETFund in the current year could be significantly lower than what was allocated in the previous year.
The development, he warned, could affect the pace of infrastructural development across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, particularly as the country continues to establish and expand institutions under the tertiary education system.
The Chairman stressed the importance of adequate funding for education, noting that Nigeria must give greater priority to the sector if it is to achieve sustainable national development.
He said the Committee was particularly interested in seeing what YABATECH had achieved with TETFund interventions covering the 2023, 2024 and 2025 cycles, while also identifying challenges requiring legislative attention.
Addressing students of YABATECH during the inspection, Dandutshe urged them to see themselves as future leaders and use their education and intellectual capacity to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s development.
He described the students as the nation’s future governors, senators, ministers, professionals and other leaders, urging them to prepare themselves for positions of responsibility.
“You will be our future leaders. One of you will be a governor, one of you will be a senator, one of you will be the President, one of you will be a minister,” he told the students.
The Chairman challenged the students to develop the ability to think critically, analyse situations and anticipate the consequences of different courses of action.
He also urged them to shun illicit activities capable of damaging their future, reputation and family name, stressing the need for responsible citizenship.
Dandutshe urged the students to deploy their knowledge and skills towards building a peaceful, united and prosperous Nigeria, insisting that the country possessed the human and material resources required to become a globally competitive and export-oriented economy.
He said the National Assembly would continue to support initiatives aimed at improving the quality of tertiary education and equipping Nigerian youths with the skills required for national development.
The Committee thereafter embarked on a physical inspection of selected TETFund projects and facilities within the College, assessing the level of execution and utilisation of the interventions.
Pix:Crossview of the Senate Committee members for Tertiary Education and Tertiary Education Trust Fund, led by its Chairman, Senator Muntari Dandutshe (m), and Management team of Yaba College of Technology led by the Rector, Dr. (Engr.) Ibraheem Abdul during the Committee's visit to the College
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