A Polytechnic Don, Engr. Dr. Temitope John Alake, has called for a skills revolution and increased investment in electronic engineering to accelerate Nigeria’s technological development, industrialisation and economic growth.
Alake made the call on Thursday, while delivering the 27th Inaugural Lecture of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, held at the Atiku Abubakar Auditorium under the Professor Edward Kanu Obiakor Lecture Series. The lecture was titled, “The Nexus Between Electronic Engineering and National Development: The Imperative of Skills Acquisition Framework.”
Alake stressed that Nigeria must strengthen its electronic engineering sector and develop the capacity to manufacture critical electronic components locally, saying meaningful technological advancement would remain difficult without a strong domestic electronics industry.
He particularly advocated the revival and re-energising of the Electronic Development Institute in Awka to support research, innovation and local manufacturing. According to him, developing semiconductor manufacturing capacity would be a major step towards expanding Nigeria’s electronics industry, creating employment opportunities and reducing the country’s dependence on imported electronic products.
He said deliberate investment in electronic engineering would enable Nigeria to accelerate its journey towards industrial and technological independence.
The don also called for increased funding for polytechnic education through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), noting that vocational and technical education requires substantial investment in equipment, laboratories and other facilities.
He urged the government to review the funding arrangements for polytechnics to enable the institutions provide students with adequate practical training and industry-relevant skills.
Alake recommended the development and institutionalisation of a National Skills Qualification Framework to align engineering education with industry requirements and internationally recognised standards.
He also advocated competency-based education and training, compulsory internships and apprenticeships, stronger industry-academia partnerships, continuous professional development, as well as the establishment of Centres of Excellence and innovation hubs.
The lecturer further urged the government and relevant stakeholders to review engineering curricula to accommodate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, 5G communications and renewable energy systems. He emphasised the need for lecturers to constantly update their knowledge, while students should take skills acquisition seriously and develop practical competencies alongside academic qualifications.
The Chairman of the 12th Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Engineer Professor Ongoebi Maureen Etebu, described the inaugural lecture as enlightening and rewarding.
Etebu, who noted that she was an engineer without a background in electronic engineering, said the lecture had broadened her understanding of the field and its significance to national development.
The event attracted members of the institution’s governing council, professional associations, lecturers, students, rectors of other institutions, political leaders and other stakeholders.
Alake urged the government, educational institutions, industries and professional bodies to work together to bridge the engineering skills gap, promote innovation and position electronic engineering as a major driver of Nigeria’s industrial and technological transformation.
