Kebbi State Polytechnic, Dakingari, has announced an ambitious plan to raise its student population from the current 600 to more than 2,000 in the next admission cycle as part of efforts to meet the Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s (TETFund) minimum enrollment requirement of 1,000 students for continued funding.
The state’s Commissioner for Higher Education, Isah Abubakar Tunga, disclosed that strategic stakeholder engagements have already boosted enrollment, which stood at just 300 before the appointment of the current rector.
He noted that TETFund’s interventions remain critical to the survival of many state-owned tertiary institutions, warning that without such support, several would face severe operational challenges.
Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Abubakar Boyi-Dalatu, said the institution has rolled out measures to tackle the persistent low enrollment problem despite an expansion in its list of accredited courses. These measures include the creation of study centres across the state and the launch of 18 National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)-approved trades at its Skills Development Centre.
According to him, these initiatives are designed to attract more students and position the institution as a leading centre for technical and vocational training in the North-West. The rector also revealed that the Polytechnic has secured ₦500 million in TETFund support to establish an Innovative Technology Centre, which will focus on enhancing practical skills training and improving graduates’ employability.
Meanwhile, the Kebbi State government is intensifying consultations with stakeholders to devise additional strategies for sustaining enrollment growth.
Officials say the goal is not only to meet TETFund’s enrollment benchmark but to strengthen the Polytechnic’s role in providing industry-relevant education that drives economic development in the state.
