The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has visited the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria in a bid to revalidate some of the Institute’s programmes, as well as migrate from NID to ND. The team was led by Mrs. Esther Damisa, who represented the Director of Polytechnic Programmes.
Mrs. Damisa stated that her team’s mission was to revalidate NITT’s programmes, as well as to change the status of the certificate with a view to standardising and making them more competitive. ” Our mission is for revalidation of your programmes,, to change the status of the certificates you churn out in the institution”, she said.
Mrs. Damisa who commended NITT for the critical steps to revalidate its courses, as well as migrate from National Innovation Diploma (NID) to National Diploma (ND), however, enjoined the Institute to take the outcome of the exercise in good fate. “I want you to kindly implore you that there could be some differentials in the resources you are expected to have as an ND awarding institution. You need to ensure that you make up the differentials in terms of tools and equipment, human and material resources for these programmes to enable you to award the National Diploma certificate”, she noted.
She reiterated the grey areas highlighted by members of her team, adding that since NITT had chosen the cause of a polytechnic, it had to do it correctly. She harped on the students handbook, appropriate placement of tools and equipment, more offices, adequate technologists, as well as the establishment of a General Studies department, which she said “…is a must have”.
Also speaking, Mal. Muhammad Sani Haruna, who represented the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaja, stated that ” resources inspection, revalidation, is a general thing”. He urged the team of academics to bring their expertise to bear in their assessment.
The differentials as summarised by Mal. Haruna included: grading system, journals, staff offices, technologists, professional membership and data.
Speaking earlier, the Director General/ Chief Executive, NITT, Dr. Bayero Salih Farah, represented by the Director, Transport School, Engr. Remi Adewunmi, expressed his profound appreciation to the NBTE team, adding that the Institute had been eagerly looking forward to the visit.
Engr. Remi declared that: “There are six programmes that are ready for either revalidation or assessment, resources inspection and validation”. According to him, the programmes to be revalidated included: ND, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, ND, Mechatronics Engineering Technology, ND, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, while Freight Forwarding and Logistics Management was for resource inspection.
He also noted that the Institute was eager to convert the NID programmes to ND.
Responding to the observations made by the NBTE team during the exit meeting, Engr. Remi noted that NITT would take cognizance of them and make required amendments. “We have noted all that has been said. We’re equipped for the job; and we are ready to do more,” he stated.
Delivering the vote of thanks, the Registrar, NITT, Dr. Maina W.A. Tarfa, appreciated the NBTE team for a job well done, while noting that NITT would assiduously work on the differentials. He implored NBTE to assist the Institute in the transition process.
The highlight of the visit was the inspection of facilities, equipments and laboratories within the Institute by the NBTE team.
