University: 24 polytechnics, colleges converted to varsities in three years

•  In the past three years, the Federal and state Governments have converted approximately 24 polytechnics and colleges of education into universities. This action, criticized by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), is viewed as an effort to undermine technical education in the country.
  
  
  Amid inadequate funding for existing universities, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) cautioned against the proliferation of universities.
  
  
  Stakeholders express concern over the conversion of polytechnics and colleges of education to universities, highlighting the crucial roles these institutions play in producing middle-level manpower.
  
  
  
  Polytechnics focus on technical and vocational training, technology transfer, and skills development for socio-economic enhancement, while colleges of education are dedicated to producing teachers for secondary schools, as outlined in the national policy on education.
  
  
  
  In the same year, the ex-governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, transformed the state-owned Saadatu Rimi College of Education into a university. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State elevated the state-owned Emmanuel Alayande College of Education to a university of education.
  
  
  Additionally, former Osun State governor, Gboyega Oyetola, declared the conversion of Osun State College of Education, Ilesha, into the University of Ilesha. Likewise, Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu of Lagos State announced the conversion of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education and the Michael Otedola College of Education to the Lagos State University of Education. He also announced the upgrade of Lagos State Polytechnic into the Lagos State University of Science and Technology.
  
  
  
  In March 2022, Aminu Tambuwal, the former governor of Sokoto State, received approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to elevate the state-owned Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, to a university.
  
  
  In 2021, the immediate-past governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, announced the conversion of the College of Education, Agbor, to the Delta State University of Education, and the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, to the Delta State University of Science and Technology.
  
  
  Other affected institutions include Abia State Polytechnic, Abia State College of Education, Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Studies, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Yaba College of Technology, and Kaduna State Polytechnic, among others.
  
  
  While the NUC cited the goal of increasing access to university education, ASUP criticized it as a frivolous attempt to eliminate public polytechnics, emphasizing the distinct practical focus of polytechnics in technical and vocational education compared to universities.
  
  
  ASUP national president, Dr. Anderson Ezeibe, emphasized that the primary purpose of polytechnics is to produce professionals in technical and vocational education, addressing crucial manpower needs.
  
  
  
  "The primary reason for the upgrade is the declining enrollment in polytechnics due to discrimination against their graduates,” Ezeibe explained. He proposed that allowing polytechnics to award degrees would address these issues: fulfilling the demand for degree-level certification, enhancing technical education through curriculum improvements, maintaining a qualified workforce in polytechnics, attracting funding, and eliminating the HND/degree disparity.
  
  
  
  Ezeibe suggested that polytechnics maintain the ordinary national diploma certification for middle-level manpower and use it as a pathway for a bachelor of technology certification awarded by polytechnics.
  
  
  
  
  
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