Tech-Skills Take Over: Inside the Historic Launch of the FME TVET Programme at Federal Polytechnic Nekede
By Noble Uchegbu Uchechukwu Zachariah
A massive shift is underway in Nigeria’s educational landscape, and the Federal Polytechnic Nekede is leading the charge. The institution’s 1000-Capacity Hall was buzzing with energy on Monday, May 18, 2026, as it officially inaugurated and inducted trainees for the first and second cohorts of the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Initiative.
Managed by the institution’s Directorate of Skill Development Centre (SDC), the landmark event represents a major milestone: for the very first time, learners, trainees, and students from diverse institutions across the South-East have been brought together under a single, highly structured skill acquisition framework.
A New Era for Technical Education
The six-month intensive training program is designed to deliver industry-relevant competencies through the National Skills Qualification (NSQ) and Mandatory Skills Qualification (MSQ) frameworks.
In a powerful introductory address, the Director of the SDC, Engr. Dr. Sylvester Adikwanduaba , described the initiative as a definitive “new phase in technical education in Nigeria.”
”These qualifications are globally recognized and structured from Level One up to Level Nine, with the highest level being equivalent to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in skill-based training,” Dr. Adikwanduaba explained, urging trainees to approach the practical-heavy curriculum with absolute seriousness and active participation.
The program targets critical, high demand technical pillars necessary to drive industrial growth, including:
Agro-Mechanization; Welding and Fabrication;Furniture Making; Carpentry and Joinery; AndElectrical Installation
” Practical Skills, Not Certificates”: The Rector’s Charge
The high point of the ceremony arrived when the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Mrs. Basilia Nkemdilim Igbokwe , took the podium to declare the programme open and officially induct the eager trainees.
Commending the strategic collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the institution, Dr. Igbokwe delivered an inspiring charge that echoed deeply across the hall.
The Rector in her address opined that, ”Practical skills, not certificates, will shape Nigeria’s future. Your dedication, discipline, and creativity will be your greatest assets. The occasion in this present generation calls for what your hands can give, and not your degrees and certificates.
To our new learners, she said: you have taken a bold and commendable step. The skills you will acquire here are tools for building not only your careers but also the future of our nation. Technical skills are the engines of progress and the very foundation of techno-industrial development across the globe. Take full advantage of this opportunity to acquire practical skills capable of enhancing self-reliance and global competitiveness.”
Driving the Future of Self-Reliance
The event concluded amid high spirits, a standing ovation, and traditional cheers of “Gboza!” celebrating Dr. Igbokwe’s visionary leadership. The atmosphere was one of profound optimism, signaling a departure from purely theoretical education toward actionable, market-ready expertise.
As these first two cohorts begin their six-month journey, Federal Polytechnic Nekede isn’t just training students, it is actively engineering the next generation of self-reliant innovators, technical professionals, and economic drivers for Nigeria and the world.