Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET, remains the engine for national development, job creation, and youth empowerment. At the heart of this mission in Nigeria is Federal Polytechnic Idah, an institution that has been steadily repositioning itself under purposeful leadership to prove that TVET is not an alternative to university education, but the driver of Nigeria’s industrial and economic future.
In this exclusive interview with TVET News Monitor’s Muhammad Muntazar, the Rector, Dr. Y. B. Usman, reflects on three years of stewardship, the reforms reshaping the Polytechnic, and why strengthening TVET is critical to moving Nigeria from consumption to production.
This conversation gives stakeholders, staff, students, alumni, and the general public a clear, firsthand account of Dr. Usman’s leadership journey. It documents the vision, principles, challenges, and milestones that have defined his administration, while projecting the institution’s roadmap for academic excellence, infrastructure growth, and industry-relevant skills development. Through his responses, readers will understand not just what has been done at Fed Poly Idah, but why TVET is Nigeria’s development engine.
THE JOURNEY, VISION & PRINCIPLES
TVET NEWS MONITOR: You have spent three years as Rector of Federal Polytechnic Idah – how would you describe your leadership journey so far?
Rector, Fed Poly Idah: The last three years have been a journey of transformation, stabilization, and purposeful reform. When I assumed office, my immediate task was to rebuild institutional confidence, because without trust nothing moves in an institution. We then focused on strengthening systems and processes, and repositioning the Polytechnic to respond effectively to modern educational demands. It has been deliberate, step by step, to lay a solid foundation so that Fed Poly Idah can compete and deliver quality TVET. If TVET is truly the engine of development, then the institution must first be stable, credible, and efficient.
TVET NEWS MONITOR: What vision and guiding principles have shaped your administration?
Rector, Fed Poly Idah: I came in with a clear vision of transforming this Polytechnic into a centre of excellence in practical and industry-driven education. That vision has shaped every decision. It guided our emphasis on hands-on training, because TVET must produce skills the market needs. It also drove our push for infrastructure development and for producing graduates who are not just employable, but entrepreneurial – job creators, not job seekers.
My decisions are anchored on transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, fairness, and commitment to excellence. Transparency ensures our processes are open. Accountability means we take responsibility. Inclusiveness guarantees no voice is excluded, and fairness ensures a level playing field. Above all, commitment to excellence pushes us to do things right. These principles have helped us build credibility and earn the trust of staff, students, and the community, because a development engine cannot run without trust.
GOVERNANCE, PEOPLE & STABILITY
TVET NEWS MONITOR: How have you strengthened governance, transparency, accountability, and stakeholder engagement?
Rector, Fed Poly Idah: We made due process non-negotiable across all levels. Financial discipline was tightened and we ensured strict compliance with NBTE, TETFund, and other regulatory standards. All statutory and ad hoc committees were properly constituted and allowed to function independently. When committees work without interference, decisions are better and oversight is stronger.
We also ensured these committees include representatives of staff, and where necessary, students. By allowing them to function freely within their mandates, we created a structured platform for dialogue. Today, staff and students don’t just receive decisions – they shape them. That sense of ownership has reduced friction and built trust. Strong governance is what makes TVET institutions dependable partners in national development.
TVET NEWS MONITOR: What strategies have you adopted to manage staff welfare and industrial harmony?
Rector, Fed Poly Idah: We fostered strong collaboration with staff unions, which operate as a coalition on campus. That makes discussions coordinated, constructive, and focused on institutional growth. With this approach, everyone feels heard and everyone knows the bigger goal.
Despite funding limitations, we ensure benefits meant for staff are utilized appropriately. This includes sponsorship for conferences, seminars, workshops, institutional-based research grants, and other professional development initiatives. When staff grows, the institution grows. Welfare is not an expense, but an investment. You cannot build a development engine with a demotivated workforce.
ACHIEVEMENTS & INFRASTRUCTURE
TVET NEWS MONITOR: What would you consider your top three achievements, and what key infrastructure or academic developments back them up?
Rector, Fed Poly Idah: First is Institutional Stability: We have enjoyed a stable academic and administrative environment with no union strikes or student unrest. That peace ensured uninterrupted academic activities and improved productivity. Stability is the foundation any development engine needs to function.
Second is Significant Infrastructural Development: We constructed, furnished, and equipped a new Multipurpose Laboratory. We built and furnished private-room, 120-bed storey hostels for female and male students – the first-ever private hostel in the Polytechnic. Existing hostels like Amina, Inikpi, Omodoko, Ayegba, Zik, and Ahmadu Bello were fully renovated. We also rehabilitated the Tourism Building, Hospitality Management Technology Building, Environmental Building, and Environmental Lecture Theatre.
We paid special attention to ICT and power because TVET cannot thrive in darkness. The ICT and PTDF facilities were renovated and equipped to modern standards and are now being positioned as a CBT centre for JAMB and internal exams. Before my tenure, there was no properly structured ICT centre. Solar power systems were deployed to critical facilities including the New and Old Administrative Blocks, School of Business Complex, Agriculture and Agricultural Technology Departments, Chemical Engineering, Mathematics and Statistics, Mass Communication, Computer Science, Food Science, and Tourism Departments. We also provided solar-powered street lighting and ensured water supply across hostels.
Third is Academic Quality and Programme Relevance: Accreditation status across several programmes improved significantly because we prioritized standards, facilities, and staff capacity. We equipped the Library with relevant titles and journals, constructed an ultra-modern multipurpose auditorium, and sponsored staff participation in conferences and workshops. Even our guest houses and the Governing Council Chairman’s Guest House were renovated.
All these interventions created an environment where teaching, learning, and research can thrive without basic facility constraints. That is how you power the TVET engine.
TVET NEWS MONITOR: How has the Polytechnic advanced in accreditation, programme expansion, and innovation?
Rector, Fed Poly Idah: We made deliberate progress on all three fronts. Accreditation improved because we prioritized standards and staff capacity. For programme expansion, we reviewed offerings and expanded them to reflect emerging industry needs. TVET must stay relevant, so we upgraded curricula that speak to today’s economy. For innovation, we strengthened practical-based learning, integrated ICT into teaching and administration, and upgraded laboratories. When students learn by doing with modern tools, innovation becomes natural. That has positioned Fed Poly Idah as an institution that solves real-world problems – which is exactly what a development engine must do.
CHALLENGES, LESSONS & SOLUTIONS
TVET NEWS MONITOR: What major challenges have you encountered, and what lessons will guide future actions?
Rector, Fed Poly Idah: One major challenge has been very poor power supply in Idah. At a point we relied almost entirely on generators, and diesel costs drained resources meant for academics. Through phased deployment of solar power systems across critical areas, we significantly reduced diesel costs and improved energy efficiency.
Another challenge is funding constraints. There is still much to do in infrastructure, equipment, and academic expansion, but limited funding has slowed execution. Many laboratories and studios still need upgrading. Some key projects remain uncompleted: the Polytechnic has no official Rector’s residence, the central storehouse is in poor condition, the Medical Centre building is at a standstill, and the Fire Lubebay project is uncompleted.
The lessons are resilience, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, prudent resource management, and continuous improvement. These challenges reinforced the need for stronger collaboration with government and intervention agencies. We do what we can with what we have, while pushing for more. Even an engine needs fuel and maintenance to keep running.
TVET NEWS MONITOR: How do you address technology gaps or training equipment needs?
Rector, Fed Poly Idah: We tackled this by upgrading laboratories and workshops with modern equipment that reflects current industry standards. TVET cannot train students on obsolete tools. Beyond equipment, we enhanced staff training to keep pace with technology. The best machines mean nothing if operators are not up to speed. So we paired infrastructure upgrades with capacity building. That way, our teaching staff can deliver, and students graduate with market-relevant skills. That is how you keep the engine of TVET modern and competitive.
FUTURE, PARTNERSHIPS & TVET ADVOCACY
TVET NEWS MONITOR: What are your priority projects, reforms, and new programmes for the next phase?
Rector, Fed Poly Idah: Our priorities focus on four areas: infrastructure expansion, modernization of workshops and laboratories, digital transformation, and strengthening academic excellence.
We are expanding academic programmes through the establishment of a School of Health Technology and a School of Agricultural Technology. The School of Agricultural Technology will house Agricultural Engineering Technology, Animal Health and Production Technology, Crop Production Technology, Fisheries Technology, Forestry Technology, Horticultural Technology, and Agricultural Extension and Management. Nigeria’s future is tied to agriculture and health, so we must train people who can drive those sectors. These are the sectors where the TVET engine can generate the most jobs and wealth.
Other projects include construction and expansion of campus road networks, provision of solar-powered hostels, additional staff office accommodations, and procurement of modern equipment and furniture for staff and students. These address immediate needs and long-term positioning.
TVET NEWS MONITOR: How do you intend to deepen digital transformation and strengthen industry-institution linkages?
Rector, Fed Poly Idah: We are expanding e-learning platforms, integrating ICT into teaching and learning, and automating administrative processes. When I assumed office, the ICT Department was almost non-functional. Today we have a fully functional ICT centre with capacity for over 400 users. The Polytechnic is now fully CBT-ready for JAMB and other exams. IDICE, ODeL platforms, and smart classroom systems with interactive boards are now operational. Digital is no longer the future here – it’s the present.
On industry linkages, we are building stronger partnerships because TVET must connect to the real economy. We are enhancing internships so students spend time in factories and workshops. We are aligning curriculum with labour market needs by working directly with employers. When industry shapes what we teach, graduates become job-ready from day one. That connection between classroom and workplace is what makes TVET the real engine of development.
TVET NEWS MONITOR: What partnerships have benefited the institution, and how have you improved students’ employability?
Rector, Fed Poly Idah: Partnerships have been a game-changer. We collaborate with Kogi State Polytechnic, PEMADI, Federal University Lokoja, Royalseal Farms & Mills Ltd, Healthclone Consult, and several development partners. These support academic development, professional training, skills acquisition, research, and industry exposure.
For employability, we established a Career Centre for guidance and mentorship. We strengthened skill-based development programmes and expanded entrepreneurial initiatives. We also built affiliations with industries and factories for practical exposure. Combined with quality education, these efforts ensure graduates are equipped for employment, innovation, and self-reliance. The goal is graduates who create jobs, not just seek them. That is the true output of a development engine.
*TVET NEWS MONITOR: Where do you see the Polytechnic in the next five years, especially if Professor Bugaje succeeds in establishing the National Commission for Technical Education?*
*Rector, Fed Poly Idah:* I see Fed Poly Idah becoming one of the leading technical and innovative institutions in Nigeria and beyond, with stronger standards, improved infrastructure, and global relevance. A National Commission for Technical Education would strengthen regulation, funding, and policy support for polytechnics.
In five years, we envision a Polytechnic deeply committed to practical, industry-driven skills, producing highly skilled manpower and contributing to national development. We also see Nigeria gradually becoming an exporter of skilled workers through competency-based training. Above all, our goal is self-reliant, entrepreneurial youths who create opportunities and drive economic growth. That is what happens when the TVET engine is fully powered.
*LEGACY & TVET OUTLOOK*
*TVET NEWS MONITOR: What legacy do you hope to leave, and how do you hope to influence future administrators?*
*Rector, Fed Poly Idah:* I aim to leave a stable, transparent, and progressive institution driven by excellence and innovation. Stability means systems that outlive individuals. Transparency means accountability. Progress means we keep moving forward.
I hope to inspire future leaders to uphold integrity, inclusiveness, and commitment to institutional growth. Integrity because trust collapses without it. Inclusiveness because no one builds alone. Commitment because TVET leadership is service. If those values become standard, Fed Poly Idah will keep rising as a model of what the TVET engine can achieve.
*TVET NEWS MONITOR: In what ways are you preparing the institution for long-term sustainability?*
*Rector, Fed Poly Idah:* We focus on capacity building, institutional reforms, and strategic planning. Capacity building means staff and students keep developing skills. Reforms mean modern systems and structures. Strategic planning means preparing for the next 10-20 years, not just reacting to problems. Sustainability is building a Polytechnic that adapts, funds itself, and keeps delivering quality regardless of the economic climate. That is how you ensure the engine keeps running long after the driver leaves.
*TVET NEWS MONITOR: How do you assess NBTE under Professor Idris Bugaje, and what is his legacy for TVET?*
*Rector, Fed Poly Idah:* NBTE plays a central role in standards and quality assurance. Under Professor Bugaje, there has been focused, proactive regulation. NBTE enforces minimum standards through rigorous accreditation and quality reviews. This improved credibility and competitiveness of polytechnic education.
NBTE has driven curriculum modernization for industry needs and emphasized competency-based education. It has strengthened monitoring, promoted digital transformation, and encouraged innovation. Regulation is not just control – it raises the bar.
Professor Bugaje’s handling has been impactful and reform-driven: visionary leadership, curriculum reforms aligned with industry, stronger accreditation, promotion of skills-based education, advocacy for institutional autonomy and a National Commission for Technical Education, drive for digital transformation, and promotion of industry collaboration. His legacy is simple: he made TVET matter again in Nigeria and positioned it as the development engine it was always meant to be.
*TVET NEWS MONITOR: What is your overall evaluation of TVET in national development, and how can it address unemployment and skills shortages?*
*Rector, Fed Poly Idah:* TVET is central to national development, providing the skills needed for industrialization, job creation, and economic growth. No country industrializes without technicians, artisans, engineers, and skilled workers. Universities produce thinkers, polytechnics produce doers – those who build, maintain, and innovate. If Nigeria wants to move from consumption to production, TVET must lead.
TVET can be repositioned through increased funding, curriculum modernization, industry collaboration, and improved public perception. Funding is critical because obsolete tools cannot train modern workers. Curriculum must reflect current market needs. Industry must help design training and offer internships. And public perception must change – parents and students must see TVET as a first choice, not a last resort. When those four align, TVET becomes the fastest route to reducing unemployment and closing skills gaps. That is why I keep saying: TVET is Nigeria’s development engine.
*TVET NEWS MONITOR: What more should stakeholders do to elevate TVET’s perception and attractiveness?*
*Rector, Fed Poly Idah:* Stakeholders should invest in awareness, incentives, infrastructure, and policies that promote TVET as a viable career path.
Awareness campaigns must show that TVET graduates start businesses, earn good incomes, and solve real problems. Incentives like scholarships, grants, and startup support make TVET attractive. Infrastructure – modern workshops, labs, and hostels – proves seriousness. Policies must protect TVET graduates, ensure parity with university degrees where applicable, and create pathways for further education. When parents see TVET as dignified and profitable, enrollment will rise and Nigeria’s skills deficit will shrink. Only then will we fully unlock TVET as Nigeria’s development engine.