President Bola Tinubu has lauded the governing board, management, and staff of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa for their tireless efforts in transforming the institution into a premier centre for technical education excellence.
The President gave the commendation on Saturday during the institution’s 11th combined convocation ceremony, held in the Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
In an address delivered on his behalf by Mrs. Amy Igwe, Director of Polytechnics and Allied Institutions at the Ministry of Education, President Tinubu highlighted the polytechnic’s infrastructural expansion and forward-thinking curriculum.
He specifically praised the accreditation of cutting-edge programmes in renewable energy technology, artificial intelligence, and mechatronics engineering, alongside the establishment of a new skills innovation hub.
The President emphasized that the industrial future of Nigeria rests heavily on the quality of its technical and vocational workforce.
”Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, this administration has made technical education the engine room of our economic transformation. Some of the remarkable achievements of this administration include funding and infrastructure, curriculum reform, student support, and industry linkage,” he said.
President Tinubu revealed that the Federal Government, through the Bank of Industry (BOI) and SMEDAN, has earmarked ₦50 Billion for graduate entrepreneurship loans in 2026 to further support young innovators.
Given Nasarawa State’s vast mineral wealth, the President challenged the institution to champion research in mineral processing and clean energy.
He urged the leadership to deepen collaborations with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the Mining Cadastre Office, and private investors to convert local resources into jobs.
Aligning with the federal vision, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule represented by his Deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe reiterated the state’s commitment to science and technical education.
Governor Sule highlighted the state’s proactive steps, including the establishment of the Wing Commander Ibrahim Abdullahi Vocation and Technology Institute in Lafia and various skills acquisition centres across the state.
He thanked the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa for being a reliable partner in youth empowerment and wealth creation.
Convocation Milestones and Fellowship .
In her convocation address, the Rector of the institution, Dr. Hauwa Muhammad, disclosed that the combined ceremony marked the graduation of 48,360 students spanning four academic sessions, 2021/2022 to 2024/2025.
She revealed that the combined convocation ceremony is also conferring the institution’s Fellowship Awards to seven 7 distinguished Nigerians who have excelled in their various fields of endeavors.
“They are His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State; Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, Honourable Minister of State for Education; Senator, Aliyu Ahmed Wadada; Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District; Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda, Chairman, House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education.
“Others are Professor Idris Muhammad Bugaji, Executive Secretary, NBTE; His Royal Highness Hon. Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I (Rtd), Emir of Lafia and Chairman of the Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs; and Hon. Ahmed Aliyu Tijjani, Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI),” she said.
She then congratulated all graduating students and their families as well as those conferred with institution fellowship award for the remarkable achievement.
In an interview, Sen. Ahmed Wadada (APC/Nasarawa West) said he felt happy, appreciated, challenged and fulfilled to be conferred with the fellowship award by the polytechnic.
“I feel fulfilled and honoured for being honoured by my Alma mater but over and above all I see it as a challenge.
“A challenge in the sense that for me to be so recognized and honoured then it is expected that in future I should do more than I have done to deserve this honour, so that more honours and awards continue to come,” he said.
He assured that a bill he sponsored for the institution to be transformed to a University of Mining is still undergoing legislative process and all efforts are being put to ensure it is passed by the legislative arm of government.
