Pix:The rector, Yaba College of Technology, Dr (Engr) Ibraheem Abdul presenting College souvenir to the Country Focal Person for WorldSkills Nigeria, Mrs. Yemisi Akinrinmade during a courtesy visit to the Management held at its Council Chamber
By Editor
In a move set to redefine technical and vocational education in Nigeria, a delegation from World Skills Nigeria led by Mrs. Yemisi Akinrinmade paid a courtesy visit to the Rector of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), expressing readiness to collaborate with the nation’s premier tertiary institution in advancing skill development and international competitiveness among Nigerian youths.
The Country Focal Person for WorldSkills Nigeria, Mrs. Yemisi Akinrinade, described the visit to Yaba College of Technology as a significant step in strengthening collaboration towards advancing technical and vocational education and training in Nigeria.
She explained that WorldSkills International, established over 70 years ago, is a global movement promoting excellence in technical and vocational skills across 89 member countries, including Nigeria, which joined the organization in 2024 after a decade-long effort. She noted that WorldSkills Nigeria operates under the Federal Ministry of Education to build capacity and align the nation’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with international standards.
Commending Yaba College of Technology for its pioneering role in skills development, Akinrinade highlighted the institution’s remarkable contributions to the WorldSkills vision. These include the Rector’s membership on the National Steering Committee, the College’s representation at the WorldSkills International General Assembly, and the establishment of the Department of Railway Vehicle Technology Engineering — a milestone supported by a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
She disclosed that WorldSkills Nigeria will participate in InterTransCamp 2025, an international rail technology skills event, and will also host AfriRailTechCamp 2026, both aimed at empowering Nigerian youths with advanced skills in railway technology. She called on Yaba College of Technology to continue partnering with WorldSkills Nigeria to unlock new pathways for young people to thrive in technical careers and to reinforce Nigeria’s global leadership in skills development.
Welcoming the team, the Rector of YABATECH, Dr. (Engr.) Ibraheem Abdul, described the visit as a “timely alignment” with the College’s long-standing mission of producing highly skilled and globally relevant graduates. He noted that the visit represents a renewed drive toward positioning the institution as a national hub for technical innovation and vocational excellence. “Skills are the currency of today,” the Rector stated. “Our forefathers built this college on the foundation of technical mastery and national service. We have a duty to sustain that heritage and make YABATECH the go-to center for all skill-based training in the country.”
Highlighting the College’s ongoing efforts, Dr. Abdul recalled that since the establishment of the Flexible Skills Development Centre in 2016, YABATECH has consistently implemented successful pilot projects that have produced hundreds of skilled artisans and entrepreneurs. He further revealed the institution’s plan to evolve into a National Skills Resource Centre-a model facility where any type of technical skill could be acquired. “We want to reach a stage where, when anyone thinks of skill training in Nigeria, the answer is YABATECH,” he emphasized.
The Rector also disclosed that YABATECH is poised to transition into the first Skills University in Nigeria, a specialized institution designed to raise the nation’s skill standards to international levels. “We are not just aspiring to become a university,” he said, “we want to be a university that is known globally for skills, technology, and innovation.”
