By Ajao Stephen
In a significant step toward advancing technical and vocational education in Nigeria, the Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Oyo State, on Tuesday signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). The agreement, formalized at the NDE headquarters in Abuja, aims to accelerate youth empowerment, foster innovation, and expand job creation nationwide.
The Director-General of the NDE, His Excellency Silas Ali Agara—former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State—signed on behalf of the agency. Representing Federal Polytechnic Ayede was its Rector, Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed. Also in attendance was Mr. Oluwaseun Owojori, Acting Director of the Centre for Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (CSAED), who was recently reappointed for another term.
The MoU outlines a collaborative framework in which the NDE will provide physical infrastructure and access to existing vocational programmes, while Federal Polytechnic Ayede will contribute academic expertise, experienced personnel, and its growing student population. The partnership is designed to enhance hands-on training, support entrepreneurial development, and align with national strategies for youth employment and capacity building.
A major component of the agreement is the formal allocation of the NDE’s Model Skills Centre at Onipaanu in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, to the Polytechnic. Under the terms of the MoU, the institution will utilize the facility rent-free, acknowledging its status as a public educational institution under the Federal Ministry of Education.
The designated centre includes five administrative offices, a fully equipped catering and kitchen unit, standard workshops, classrooms, and hostels for both male and female trainees. This setup is expected to significantly expand the Polytechnic’s capacity to deliver technical education and promote entrepreneurship, especially among youth and underserved communities.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, NDE Director-General Agara acknowledged the Polytechnic’s consistent efforts and clarified the circumstances behind earlier delays.
“I sincerely apologise for the delay. Your renewal letter was received around November 2024 and referred to the appropriate office, but no action was taken until your recent reminder. That prompted us to convene a virtual meeting instead of asking your team to travel from Oyo State. I’m pleased that the meeting resolved all outstanding issues, leading us to this formal signing today. Let me sincerely congratulate you,” he stated.
Highlighting the scope of the agreement, Agara noted, “This MoU enables meaningful collaboration by combining our respective strengths—academic and human resources from Federal Polytechnic Ayede, and physical infrastructure with existing programmes from the NDE. It opens access to our Labour Employment and Entrepreneurship Programme (LEEP) for students, staff, and community youth, including out-of-school girls and women seeking skills development.”
He added that the NDE welcomes the participation of qualified Polytechnic staff as mentors and trainers in LEEP and other NDE-led initiatives across the country.
In his remarks, Rector Engr. Dr. Abdul-Hameed described the MoU as a “timely and strategic intervention” in line with Nigeria’s broader goals to reposition technical education.
“This partnership embodies our shared vision to develop a skilled, resilient workforce. Federal Polytechnic Ayede is committed to leveraging this opportunity for the benefit of our students, the surrounding communities, and the nation at large. We will deploy our academic strength, technical expertise, and student-driven innovation to ensure its success,” he affirmed.
The agreement also includes standard administrative provisions on confidentiality, dispute resolution, governing law, non-transferability of rights, and termination protocols. Officials from both institutions hailed the MoU as a model for effective inter-agency collaboration, with the potential to close Nigeria’s skills gap and reduce youth unemployment.
By aligning educational and employment strategies, the Federal Polytechnic Ayede and the NDE have charted a new course for capacity building, entrepreneurship, and innovation-driven national development.
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