President Bola Tinubu has given approval for the transformation of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) into a university.
This was revealed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during a visit to the institution on Friday. He emphasized that efforts to complete the conversion process are already underway.
“The rector mentioned earlier that the staff, students, and management of the college have been praying and fasting for this conversion to a university,” Alausa said.
“You’ve caught me a bit off guard, but when I discussed it with President Bola Tinubu, he quickly approved it. I’m just waiting for the official memo and necessary procedures.”
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He praised the significant academic contributions of the institution, acknowledging the efforts of the Tinubu administration in enhancing the education system.
“This school is a legacy, and with over 200 staff members holding doctoral degrees, it is more than ready to become a university. The credit goes to the president, who is passionate about education and committed to providing the best for the youth, our future leaders,” he added.
Alausa also highlighted the Tinubu administration’s focus on advancing technical, vocational, and entrepreneurship education as part of efforts to address the “Japa Syndrome”—the mass migration of Nigerians abroad. “We take the issues of artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, and similar fields seriously. By excelling in these areas, our youth can work for global companies without leaving Nigeria, earning foreign exchange and helping reduce the trend of people going abroad for low-wage jobs,” he explained.
In addition, Alausa commended the management of YABATECH for its strong maintenance culture, stressing the need for innovation and investment in technology to drive development. “We will continue to support you,” he assured.
Earlier, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, the rector of YABATECH, underscored the necessity of upgrading the institution from a polytechnic to a university, noting that over 200 staff members hold PhDs.
“While we are hopeful for this transformation, we don’t just want to become any university. We aim to be a university focused on technical and vocational education that brings innovation, solves societal challenges, and contributes to national progress. We have the manpower and just need government support to make this a reality,” he said.
