By Ademola Adekusibe
President Bola Tinubu has signed legislation upgrading the Federal Polytechnic, Kaduna, to the Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, Kaduna, while a related bill has established the Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, Yaba, Lagos.
The development was announced on Friday by Daniel Amos, the member representing Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, who commended Tinubu for assenting to the Kaduna bill and praised Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, for sponsoring the legislation.
Amos, who chairs the House Committee on House Services, described the move as an important step towards strengthening technical and vocational education, promoting skills development and supporting national development.
“Speaker Tajudeen’s leadership on this bill demonstrates purposeful commitment to education and national development,” Amos said.
He said the President’s assent reflected the administration’s commitment to educational reform and human capital development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to the lawmaker, the new university is expected to strengthen research capacity, expand opportunities for specialised education and improve graduate employability in Kaduna State and beyond. He added that the House of Representatives would support efforts to ensure the institution’s smooth take-off.
Kaduna Polytechnic Gets New University Status
The legislation changes the legal status of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaduna, replacing its existing statutory framework with one establishing the Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, Kaduna.
The new institution is expected to focus on technology, applied learning and vocational training, with the aim of producing graduates equipped with practical skills relevant to Nigeria’s industrial and economic needs.
The transition is intended to broaden opportunities for university-level education and research while strengthening technical training.
However, the practical impact will depend on implementation, including funding, infrastructure, staffing, programme development and the regulatory arrangements needed to operate as a university.
The institution will also need to manage the transition for existing students and staff and provide clarity on academic programmes, qualifications and administrative structures.
Abbas Sponsors Kaduna Bill
Amos credited House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas with sponsoring the Kaduna legislation, describing it as an example of legislative action aimed at expanding educational opportunities and strengthening technical education.
He congratulated the people of Kaduna State, as well as the management, staff and students of the former Federal Polytechnic, Kaduna, on the development.
The lawmaker expressed optimism that the new university would contribute to skills acquisition, research and the production of graduates capable of supporting technological and industrial development.
Yaba Also Gets Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies
The Kaduna legislation comes alongside the establishment of the Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, Yaba, Lagos.
The proposed conversion of Yaba College of Technology into a university had previously advanced through the legislative process. In May 2025, TheCable reported that the bill sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele had passed its second reading in the Senate.
The Yaba institution is intended to strengthen specialised higher education, with emphasis on technical education, vocational training, research and practical skills development.
The two institutions are expected to expand opportunities for students seeking specialised education in technology and applied fields. They could also support stronger links between academic research, industry and the demand for skilled workers.
The extent of these benefits will depend on the resources made available to the institutions and how effectively their new mandates are implemented.
Focus Turns to Implementation
The establishment of specialised universities in Kaduna and Yaba is expected to contribute to Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen technical education and develop a skilled workforce.
For the institutions to fulfil these objectives, the transition will require appropriate funding, qualified personnel, adequate facilities, accredited academic programmes and effective administration.
The development also raises practical questions about how existing programmes and staff will be incorporated into the new university structures and how students will be affected by the changes.
Tinubu’s assent to the Kaduna legislation provides the institution with a new statutory identity, while the establishment of the Yaba university marks a further development in the expansion of specialised federal higher education.
Attention will now turn to the implementation of the laws and the steps required to translate the changes in status into expanded academic opportunities, stronger research and improved technical and vocational training.