By DAYO ADESULU
The Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has inspected projects funded by TETFund at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and assess the impact of government intervention in tertiary institutions.
The inspection was led by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutshe, alongside other members of the 10th National Assembly.
The delegation also held engagements with the management, staff and students of the institution during the exercise.
The visit was designed to assess the level of implementation of TETFund-funded projects, examine the utilisation of funds released to the institution, identify challenges affecting project execution and determine areas requiring additional government intervention.
YABATECH Grapples With Space, Ageing Infrastructure
Welcoming the committee, the Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Engr. Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul, described the visit as evidence of the National Assembly’s commitment to the development of tertiary education and the advancement of Nigeria’s academic and physical infrastructure.
Abdul said YABATECH remained committed to accountability and the judicious use of resources provided through TETFund.
He explained that the inspection offered the institution an opportunity to demonstrate the progress achieved through various TETFund-sponsored projects while also highlighting the challenges confronting the College.
According to the Rector, YABATECH faces significant infrastructural pressure because of its large student population and limited land area.
The institution currently has about 35,400 students and more than 2,000 staff members operating within a relatively small expanse of land.
He said the situation had made conventional horizontal expansion increasingly difficult, forcing the institution to adopt vertical development through the construction of multi-storey buildings.
Abdul further noted that the challenge had become more pressing as YABATECH approaches its 80th anniversary next year.
According to him, some of the College’s facilities were constructed during the colonial era and have now become obsolete.
Consequently, the institution has embarked on a strategic redevelopment programme involving the demolition of some ageing structures and their replacement with modern multi-storey facilities.
College Merges TETFund Interventions for Major Projects
The Rector disclosed that YABATECH had adopted a strategy of combining TETFund interventions from different years to execute projects of substantial value and quality.
He explained that the approach was necessary to ensure that available intervention funds could deliver projects capable of addressing the institution’s peculiar infrastructural challenges.
Abdul also cited the conversion of areas previously occupied by facilities such as the Rector’s Lodge for academic infrastructure as part of efforts to maximise the limited land available to the College.
Beyond infrastructure, the Rector highlighted the growing demand for admission into YABATECH, which he attributed to the institution’s reputation and academic standing.
He recalled that hundreds of prospective students had previously protested over their inability to secure admission.
However, he explained that the College could only admit students within the quota approved by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The Rector also disclosed that YABATECH was gradually developing another campus, with some infrastructural interventions already being directed towards the new location.
YABATECH Expands Skills Development and Digital Initiatives
Abdul said the College was expanding its skills-development programmes to provide young Nigerians with practical competencies beyond conventional National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes.
He stressed that digital technology and skills development had become increasingly important in tackling youth unemployment and preparing graduates for the demands of the modern economy.
The development, he said, formed part of the institution’s broader effort to make its programmes more responsive to changing economic and technological realities.
Senator Calls for Greater Investment in Digital Learning
Members of the Senate Committee commended the YABATECH management for managing a large student population despite the institution’s severe space constraints.
However, Senator Shuaibu Afolabi urged the College to complement its physical expansion programme with greater investment in digital learning.
He advised the institution to explore remote learning centres and technology-enabled teaching platforms that could allow students to participate in academic activities without always being physically present on campus.
Afolabi also called for stronger affiliations between YABATECH and reputable institutions around the world.
According to him, such partnerships could promote knowledge exchange while exposing both students and staff to international best practices.
He further advised the College to seek additional intervention from federal agencies with mandates covering technology, ICT and innovation.
Senate Raises Alarm Over Possible TETFund Revenue Decline
Speaking during the inspection, Dandutshe said the committee’s visit was part of its constitutional responsibility to monitor public projects and ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
He explained that the committee was also using the exercise to engage directly with tertiary institutions and gain a better understanding of the challenges affecting the delivery of quality education.
However, the Senate committee chairman expressed concern over the possibility of a decline in revenue available to TETFund for intervention projects.
Dandutshe said discussions with relevant stakeholders indicated that the amount available for distribution to TETFund in the current year could be significantly lower than the allocation received in the previous year.
He warned that such a development could slow the pace of infrastructural development across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
The concern, he noted, was particularly significant as Nigeria continues to establish and expand institutions within the tertiary education system.
‘Nigeria Must Prioritise Education’
The Senate committee chairman stressed the importance of adequate and sustainable funding for education, arguing that Nigeria must attach greater priority to the sector if the country is to achieve sustainable national development.
He said the committee was particularly interested in assessing projects executed under the 2023, 2024 and 2025 TETFund intervention cycles at YABATECH.
He added that the inspection would also enable the committee to identify challenges that might require legislative intervention.
Senate Chairman Urges YABATECH Students to Prepare for Leadership
Addressing students of the College, Dandutshe urged them to see themselves as future leaders and use their education and intellectual capacity to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s development.
He described the students as future governors, senators, ministers, professionals and other leaders who would eventually occupy positions of responsibility across the country.
“You will be our future leaders. One of you will be a governor, one of you will be a senator, one of you will be the President, one of you will be a minister,” he told the students.
The senator challenged the students to develop strong critical-thinking and analytical skills.
He urged them to learn how to assess situations carefully, anticipate the consequences of their decisions and make responsible choices.
Dandutshe also warned the students against illicit activities capable of damaging their future, reputation and family name.
He encouraged them to embrace responsible citizenship and deploy their knowledge and skills towards building a peaceful, united and prosperous Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria possesses the human and material resources needed to develop into a globally competitive and export-oriented economy.
He assured the students that the National Assembly would continue to support initiatives aimed at improving the quality of tertiary education and equipping young Nigerians with relevant skills for national development.
Why This Matters
The Senate inspection highlights the growing infrastructure and funding pressures facing Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
For institutions such as YABATECH, where student enrolment is high but available land is limited, investment in multi-storey facilities and digital learning could provide practical ways of expanding access.
At the same time, concerns over possible reductions in TETFund resources could have wider implications for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education that depend on intervention funding for infrastructure, equipment and other development projects.
The inspection therefore provides an opportunity for policymakers and education managers to reassess funding models while ensuring that existing public resources deliver measurable benefits.
The Senate Committee subsequently inspected selected TETFund-funded projects and facilities across the College to assess their level of execution and utilisation.
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