Federal Polytechnic Ukana has been approved by NBTE as a Skill Training Centre. The school will now run and certify hands-on vocational programmes in over ten trades. Full details of the approval, courses, and impact are shared below.
Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Akwa Ibom State, has bagged something fresh and official. The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has given the green light for the school to function as a Skill Training Centre. The news broke with a signed document dated 13th August 2025, and it spread quickly through local press briefings. For the polytechnic, it is another stone laid on its track record of practical education.
What the Approval Means
This is not just a paper endorsement. It followed a proper process: an application, checks, and a verification visit by NBTE. After ticking all boxes, the school now has the go-ahead to run and certify hands-on vocational courses.
The approved trades cover areas many Nigerians use daily. The list runs across fourteen programmes:
- Fashion Design
- Leather Work
- Paint Making
- Painting and Decoration
- Web Application Development
- Computer Hardware Maintenance and Repairs
- Mobile Phone Repairs and Maintenance
- Automobile Mechanic
- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Repairs and Maintenance
- Welding and Fabrication
- Plumbing and Pipe Fitting
- Electrical Installation, Maintenance and Repairs
- Brick Laying, Block Laying and Concreting (Masonry)
- Carpentry and Joinery
From tailoring to tech, welding to web apps, the scope is wide, and each skill is one that can put food on the table.
Certification and Assessment
Under this setup, training does not end with just classes. A Sectoral Awarding Body will handle the assessment of trainees. Once done, the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) will issue certificates based on their recommendation. So yes, students will walk away with recognised documents to back their craft.
Words From the Rector
Ambassador (Mrs) Eduma Enobong Essien, Rector of the Polytechnic, spoke with visible pride. She called the approval more than just another stamp, but a clear sign of the school’s readiness to raise skilled graduates. In her words, the move strengthens their vision of producing people who can handle both classroom and workshop demands.
She added that this is a chance to give back to students and even the surrounding community. With the right support, the campus could become a hub where technical knowledge blends with practical use, creating more jobs and fewer idle hands.
Why This Matters
For Ukana and beyond, this opens doors. With so many young people chasing white-collar jobs that feel scarce, vocational training like this offers another path. You learn, you practise, you earn. It might sound simple, but that is where the real shift lies. As some would say, “na hand work dey carry man go far.”