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Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Oyo State has officially renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). The agreement, which was ceremoniously inked at the NDE headquarters in Abuja.
The event was graced by the Director-General of the NDE, His Excellency Silas Ali Agara, a distinguished former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, who represented the agency with great enthusiasm. Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed (FNSE), the esteemed Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Ayede, proudly signed on behalf of his institution, alongside Mr. Oluwaseun Owojori, the Acting Director of the Centre for Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (CSAED), who was recently reappointed for another term.
This collaboration establishes a robust framework in which the NDE will provide essential infrastructure and existing vocational programs, while the Federal Polytechnic Ayede will contribute academic expertise, experienced personnel, and access to a burgeoning student community. The initiative aims to bolster practical training, facilitate job creation, and align with national objectives for youth development and employment.
A standout feature of the MoU is the formal allocation of the NDE’s Model Skills Centre located in Onipaanu, Ogbomoso, to the Polytechnic. Under this agreement, the institution will benefit from utilizing the facility rent-free, reflecting its public status under the Federal Ministry of Education. Amenities at the center include five dedicated administrative offices, a fully equipped catering and kitchen section, modern workshops, classrooms, and accommodations for both male and female trainees.
This strategic partnership is expected to significantly enhance the Polytechnic’s capacity to provide hands-on technical education and foster entrepreneurship initiatives, particularly for youth and underserved communities.
During the signing ceremony, Director-General Agara expressed his gratitude for the Polytechnic’s perseverance and commitment, acknowledging the previous delays in finalizing the MoU. “I sincerely apologize for the delay. Your renewal letter from November 2024 was routed to the appropriate quarters, but action was only taken following your timely reminder. I am pleased that our recent virtual meeting resolved all key issues, enabling us to formalize this important agreement today. Congratulations to the Federal Polytechnic Ayede,” he stated.
The Director-General further emphasized the tremendous benefits of this partnership. “This MoU allows for meaningful collaboration leveraging our distinct strengths—human resources from the Federal Polytechnic Ayede and the NDE’s well-established physical infrastructure. It opens up opportunities for students, staff, and local communities to engage with the Labour Employment and Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP), aimed at out-of-school girls, women interested in acquiring new skills, and all individuals eager to enhance their capabilities,” he noted.
In his remarks, Engr. Dr. Abdul-Hameed described the MoU as a “timely and strategic intervention” that aligns perfectly with national ambitions to transform technical education. “This partnership reflects our mutual commitment to cultivate a skilled and resilient workforce. The Federal Polytechnic Ayede is dedicated to maximizing this opportunity for the benefit of our students, local communities, and the nation at large. Our academic strength, technical staff, and student innovation will be harnessed to ensure the success of this collaboration,” he affirmed.
The agreement encapsulates standard administrative provisions, ensuring confidentiality, dispute resolution, applicable law, non-assignment of rights, and termination protocols. Officials from both organizations hailed this partnership as a paradigm of effective inter-agency collaboration capable of addressing Nigeria’s pressing skills gap and increasing youth unemployment.
With this strategic alignment of education and employment initiatives, the Federal Polytechnic Ayede and the NDE are set to redefine standards for capacity building and innovation-driven development in Nigeria.
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