President Bola Tinubu has assented to bills upgrading Kaduna Polytechnic and Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, into full-fledged universities, marking a significant step towards strengthening technology-driven education, vocational training and skills development in Nigeria.
The assent, signed on October 14, 2026, was announced on Thursday, October 15, by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on House Services, Hon. Daniel Amos.
The two institutions will now be known as the Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, Kaduna, and the Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, Yaba, Lagos.
Both bills were sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, as part of efforts aligned with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda on educational reform.
The legislation repeals the existing laws establishing the two polytechnics and replaces them with new legal frameworks for their operation as universities.
The upgrade is intended to expand access to degree programmes, strengthen research and innovation, and produce highly skilled graduates equipped to meet the demands of industry and Nigeria’s evolving economy. It is also expected to broaden the institutions’ capacity to deliver technology-focused education, vocational studies and applied learning.
Kaduna Polytechnic, established in 1956, is among Nigeria’s oldest and most prominent polytechnic institutions, with a longstanding record in technical and vocational education. Its conversion is expected to deepen its role in technological advancement and manpower development.
YABATECH, established in 1947, holds a historic place in Nigeria’s higher education landscape as the country’s first higher education institution. Its elevation is expected to strengthen its capacity to deliver advanced technical training, research and university-level programmes.
Speaking on the development, Amos commended the President for assenting to the bills and praised the Speaker’s legislative leadership, describing the initiative as a demonstration of purposeful commitment to education and national development.
“Speaker Tajudeen’s leadership on this bill demonstrates purposeful commitment to education and national development,” he said.
The House of Representatives also pledged support for the smooth implementation of the new university framework. The transition is expected to require appropriate regulatory approvals, including programme accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC), alongside administrative arrangements for staffing, academic structures and the conversion of existing programmes.
The implications for current students, particularly those pursuing Higher National Diplomas, will depend on the transition arrangements and the academic programmes approved under the new framework.
The development follows an earlier initiative involving the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, which was proposed for conversion into the Federal University of Mining, Engineering and Technology, Nasarawa, to advance specialised training in mining, engineering and mineral processing, in line with the state’s solid-mineral potential.
Taken together, the initiatives reflect a broader policy direction towards strengthening specialised technical and vocational education, expanding university-level opportunities and aligning tertiary education more closely with Nigeria’s industrial and economic development needs.
- Media Report