In a major move to strengthen vocational and technical education in Nigeria, Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH, Yaba, Lagos State has entered into a mentorship partnership with Idanre College of Management, Science and Technology, ICOMSTECH, Idanre, Ondo State.
A statement made available to The HOPE by the proprietor of ICOMSTECH, Mr. Afolabi Akinkuehin, stated that the partnership aims at equipping young Nigerians with practical skills, improve employability, and create jobs, particularly for graduates of Government Technical College, Idanre, and other interested students across the country.
Under the collaboration, students of ICOMSTECH will undergo National Diploma, ND, and Higher National Diploma, HND, programmes in specialised courses, including Welding and Fabrication Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Print Technology, Event Management, Hospitality Management, Fashion Design and Clothing Technology, Computer Engineering, Photography, Industrial Technical Education, and Agricultural Technology, among others.
YABATECH, Nigeria’s first higher education institution, is expected to provide academic guidance and institutional mentorship to ICOMSTECH, leveraging its decades of experience in technical and vocational education.
The partnership will also open opportunities for students to benefit from international internship programmes, including the recently approved Nigeria–China Internship Scheme, as well as NYSC mobilisation, bursaries, and other student support initiatives.
ICOMSTECH management averred that the mentorship arrangement is a critical step towards the institution’s planned upgrade to a university college, while also contributing to the strengthening of the nation’s technical education and vocational skills framework.
Graduating students will receive dual qualifications – ND and the National Skills Qualification, NSQ, Certificate.
The NSQ Certificate is recognised as a benchmark of professional competence and is designed to enhance graduates’ employability, global competitiveness, and technical expertise.
The college is also seeking government backing to participate in the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training, FGN-TVET, Initiative, which focuses on upgrading the skills of Nigerian youth through specialised training across multiple disciplines.
ICOMSTECH stated that it plans to work closely with local businesses and community stakeholders in Idanre to ensure the programme translates into tangible economic benefits for the host community.
Meanwhile, the institution disclosed that arrangements are underway for the appointment of an acting Registrar and a Rector to ensure effective administration and a smooth take-off of academic activities.