The Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Temitope Alake has called on policymakers to increase funding for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and research as part of measures to address the bottlenecks hindering the development of electronic engineering in Nigeria.
Dr Alake, who also doubles as a Chief Lecturer in the Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, made the call while delivering the 27th Professor Edward Kanu Obiakor Lecture Series, titled “The Nexus Between Electronic Engineering and National Development: The Imperative of Skill Qualification Framework”, in the Institution.
He said Nigeria could not achieve sustainable technological development, economic diversification and technological sovereignty without strengthening electronic engineering education, research, professional standards and industry collaboration.
According to him, the development of a robust electronic engineering sector requires a coordinated policy framework that connects academic qualifications with industry needs while equipping graduates with relevant practical and professional competencies.
Dr Alake also identified the disconnect between academic qualifications and employment standards as one of the major bottlenecks confronting the sector.
He noted that many graduates of electronic engineering often lacked the practical, technical and soft skills required by employers, while variations in curriculum quality among institutions had also resulted in unequal levels of graduate competence.
To address these challenges, Alake advocated the development and institutionalisation of a National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) for electronic engineering, with clearly defined competency levels and learning outcomes aligned with specific job roles.
He also recommended the integration of work-based learning, including internships, apprenticeships and industry attachments, as compulsory components of engineering education.
Dr Alake urged the government to align recruitment and promotion criteria in both the public and private sectors with standardised qualifications and the proposed skills framework.
For educators, Alake advocated curriculum reforms that would incorporate emerging technologies and practical skills through project-based and experiential learning.
He encouraged tertiary institutions to deepen collaboration with industry by providing students with opportunities for internships and real-world problem-solving, while also developing flexible certification programmes to support lifelong learning among professionals.
The Rector equally called on companies to invest in employee training and professional development and partner with academic institutions and government agencies to promote innovation and commercialise research outcomes.
His words, “To actualize the nexus of electronic engineering and national development through effective skill frameworks, the following actions are urgently recommended:
“For Policymakers: Develop and institutionalize national Skill Qualification Frameworks that are industry-informed, competency-based, and internationally benchmarked.
“Increase funding for STEM education and research focused on electronic engineering.
“Incentivize Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to co-develop curricula, internships, and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programs.
“Establish regulatory policies that support innovation, intellectual property rights, and technology transfer.
“For Educators: Revise curricula to integrate emerging technologies and practical skills through project-based and experiential learning.
“Collaborate with industry to provide students with internships and real-world problem-solving opportunities.
“Facilitate lifelong learning by offering flexible certification programs accessible to professionals.
“For Industry Leaders: Engage actively in curriculum development and skills validation to ensure workforce readiness.
“Invest in employee training and support professional development initiatives.
“Partner with academic institutions and government bodies to foster innovation and research commercialization.
“Advocate for policies that enhance technological infrastructure and market access.
“Collectively, these stakeholders must champion a culture that values continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration to ensure electronic engineering continues to be a robust driver of national development”.
