President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, highlighted the development during YABATECH’s 37th Convocation Ceremony on Thursday. The President had earlier approved the institution’s conversion into a university in February 2025, a decision formally announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during a visit to the college on February 14.
Established originally as Yaba Technical Institute in 1947, the institution has been central to Nigeria’s technical education landscape for nearly eight decades. Speaking at the convocation, Tinubu emphasized that the upgrade aims to merge hands-on technical training with advanced research, fostering innovation, economic growth, and national development.
“As you are aware, the Federal Government has approved the upgrading of YABATECH to Yaba Technical and Vocational University. The committee constituted to work on the modalities to bring about a seamless transition has already submitted its report. The recommendations are being considered,” Tinubu stated.
The President underscored the government’s prioritization of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences (STEMM), alongside technical and vocational education, as foundational tools for equipping Nigeria’s youth with 21st-century skills. He pointed to ongoing initiatives by the Federal Ministry of Education to align learning with employability, including vocational training and digital skills programs.
“Through the Vocational Enterprise Institutes, over 960,000 trainees have been enrolled nationwide across more than 25 specialized trades, ensuring that young Nigerians acquire practical, market-ready skills,” Tinubu said. “In addition, the Ministry of Education is driving large-scale digital capacity-building programs to equip graduates for success in Nigeria’s fast-evolving digital economy. These initiatives include intensive digital literacy bootcamps in coding, cybersecurity, data analytics, and digital marketing; e-learning platforms offering certified online courses; structured internships and industrial attachments with leading technology companies; and the establishment of innovation and entrepreneurship hubs to nurture start-ups and small businesses.”
The President also urged graduates to “take their place as builders of a new Nigeria” and called on private-sector partners to collaborate with the government in supporting research, innovation, and enterprise development within tertiary institutions. “Nation building is not the responsibility of government alone; it is a sacred duty we all share,” he added.
Echoing the President’s remarks, YABATECH Rector, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, described the upgrade as a historic milestone that cements the institution’s 78-year legacy as Nigeria’s premier technical and vocational institution. He expressed optimism that the transformation would unlock new opportunities for research, skills development, and national economic growth.
“This is the single greatest recognition of our 78 years of excellence. It is the clearest confirmation that YABATECH is ready to champion Nigeria’s rise through technology, technical skills, and vocational innovation,” Abdul said. He also praised President Tinubu for granting what he termed a “life-changing approval,” and commended both the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, for their unwavering support for the institution.
In a bid to improve administrative efficiency, Abdul announced that from this year, the convocation ceremony would be held annually, and graduates would receive their certificates on the convocation day. A total of 8,654 students were awarded National Diplomas, Higher National Diplomas, and Certificates for the 2023/2024 academic session, including 291 distinctions, 2,434 upper credits, 4,403 lower credits, and 1,526 pass grades.
Addressing the graduands, Abdul encouraged them to embrace entrepreneurship and innovation, stressing that YABATECH equips students not only with academic competence but also with practical vocational skills. “You are leaving here not as job-seekers but as job-creators. That is the YABATECH promise, and we have delivered it,” he said.
The proposed transformation of YABATECH into a specialized university reflects Nigeria’s broader commitment to advancing technical and vocational education as a driver of innovation, employment, and economic development.