The management of Kebbi State Polytechnic, Dakingari, has acknowledged concerns over low student enrollment but affirmed that robust measures are underway to reverse the trend.
Dr. Abubakar Boyi-Dalatu, the institution’s Rector, shared these updates during a media briefing on Tuesday, August 1 in Dakingari, Suru Local Government Area. He described poor enrollment as a major challenge, despite recent accreditation successes across more academic programs.
Established 14 years ago with the goal of delivering quality technical education to Kebbi State and beyond, the polytechnic faced a critical period before Dr. Boyi-Dalatu’s appointment as substantive rector on May 31, 2024. At that time, the institution was at risk of closure due to the non-accreditation of its programs.
Within four months of his tenure, Boyi-Dalatu secured accreditation for several programs, achieved compliance with regulatory agencies, and improved the institution’s infrastructure. “Not only did we secure accreditation of our programmes, we also ensured compliance with regulatory agencies and improved our infrastructure,” he said.
To broaden access, the polytechnic’s governing council has approved the establishment of study centres at strategic locations across the state to better serve prospective students.
Currently, the institution has an enrollment of approximately 600 students, with admission processes ongoing. The rector expressed optimism that this figure will rise to about 2,000 by the end of the admission cycle.
In addition, Kebbi State Polytechnic recently received ₦500 million in support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to develop its Innovative Technology Centre.
Dr. Boyi-Dalatu highlighted the polytechnic’s Skills Development Centre, which is approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to offer hands-on training in 18 accredited trades. This initiative aims to equip students with practical skills that meet labor market demands.
“Our Skills Development Centre has approval to run 18 NBTE-accredited trades. These initiatives are designed to ensure our graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to succeed in their chosen careers and make meaningful contributions to our society,” he said.
Supporting the institution’s efforts, the Kebbi State Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Isah Abubakar-Tunga, noted that the government recently held a stakeholders’ meeting focused on boosting student enrollment. He added that additional consultations will be conducted to further refine strategies for enrollment growth.
With these interventions, Kebbi State Polytechnic is poised to strengthen its academic offerings and attract a larger student population in the coming years.
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