Igbajo Polytechnic Empowers Final-Year Students with Hands-On Entrepreneurial Skills

Opeyemi Akinniyi

Nimota Abdulrahman

Entrepreneurship Centre Igbajo Polytechnic, Igbajo

 In a proactive move to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world survival, Igbajo Polytechnic has launched an intensive vocational training program for all final-year students in both ND2 and HND2 levels across departments. The initiative aims to equip students with practical skills that will enable them to thrive after graduation.

Director of EED, Igbajo Polytechnic Mrs. Hassan

Speaking on the vision behind the program, the Director of Entrepreneurship Education Development (EED), who also doubles as the SIWES Coordinator and a lecturer in the Department of Science Technology Management, Mrs. Hassan emphasized the importance of self-reliance in today’s economy.

"It's a vocational skill to help the students while waiting for white collar jobs, and it can also be of help for them to establish on their own. The students are being trained in different skills that are easy to learn like Adire making, tailoring, painting, shoe making, bag making, among others. The turnout of the students is very impressive—more than 70% of the students are participating already in the training."

Students learning Shoe making

Students learning hairdressing 

Painting Students with their instructors

Adire making students 

She also highlighted the importance of involving the local community in the training process 

"We have professional artisans within Igbajo Community that are training them and so far we can see outcomes of what the students are able to produce. These artisans vouch that if the students are interested in further training, they will be available to train them."

Addressing challenges faced in previous years, Mrs. Hassan pointed out that low student turnout and a lack of skilled artisans were once major obstacles. However, improved communication strategies and student engagement measures have changed the narrative.

"Regarding the low turnout of students, that has been reduced drastically because now we have implemented communication to the students through their various departmental platforms. Students now register through their portal and are given a logbook to fill in what they have learned so far. This has created awareness for all students. Also, we engaged the local artisans who have informed others in town, and we now have more skilled hands training our students."

The program has received praise from students across different departments who expressed their appreciation and optimism.

A ND2 Computer Science student, Dolapo Adewoye commended the management for the initiative

ND 2 Computer Science student Dolapo Adewoye

 "I really appreciate the management for enlightening us. It's a great way for us to gain skills that can be of help after graduation."

Similarly, Oluwaferanmi Olugbodi, a ND2 student of Science Laboratory Technology, emphasized the economic benefit

ND 2 Science Laboratory Technology Oluwaferanmi Olugbodi 

"This program can serve as a source of income and contribution to the economy growth for students."

A HND2 Microbiology student, Saturday Peace expressed her wish that such a program had been introduced earlier

HND 2 Microbiology student, Saturday Peace 

"I wish the school had started this earlier. It's truly an eye-opener and prepares us for life after graduation. And I hope the management sustains this in the institution."

In conclusion, Mrs. Hassan encouraged the graduating students to take the opportunity seriously, noting that vocational skills are an added advantage in today's competitive world.

"No knowledge is a waste—it's another qualification on its own. They should exploit the opportunity and learn the skill very well. If they haven't gotten any client for now, they can start producing for themselves which also serves as advert on its own, and before you know it, you start making your money little by little."

With the vocational training program now firmly in place, Igbajo Polytechnic is setting a standard for institutions looking to integrate practical entrepreneurship into academic learning. By equipping students with both intellectual and hands-on skills, the polytechnic is fostering a generation ready to face the future with confidence, creativity, and resilience.