Gaya Polytechnic to Begin with Four Courses as Committee Eyes Year-End Take-Off

By Umar Idris Shuaibu, Kano 

The Chairman of the Gaya Polytechnic Implementation Committee, Professor Mukhtar Atiku Kurawa, has disclosed that the institution is on course to admit its first batch of students before the end of 2026 as preparations for its official take-off gather momentum.

Speaking in an interview with ‘The Historica Nigeria’, Professor Kurawa said the establishment of the state’s second government-owned polytechnic was driven by the growing demand for tertiary education and the need to address youth unemployment through technical and vocational education.

According to him, the existing Kano State Polytechnic can no longer accommodate the increasing number of secondary school graduates seeking admission each year.

He explained that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf fulfilled a campaign promise made to the people of Gaya by establishing the institution after the Kano State House of Assembly passed the enabling law, which was later signed by the governor in November 2025.

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Professor Kurawa described the decision as timely, noting that Kano’s growing population requires additional tertiary institutions capable of equipping young people with practical skills for self-reliance.

“The vision is not merely to produce graduates but to develop skilled and self-reliant youths who can become employers of labour rather than job seekers,” he said.

He explained that while polytechnics traditionally focus on producing middle-level manpower, modern technical education has evolved to emphasise entrepreneurship, innovation and practical skills capable of addressing unemployment.

Professor Kurawa said the institution aims to become one of Nigeria’s leading centres for technical education by providing students with modern equipment and practical training that will prepare them for the labour market and business opportunities.

On the institution’s readiness, he revealed that renovation of the temporary take-off campus has been substantially completed, while procurement of furniture and teaching equipment is ongoing.

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He expressed optimism that academic activities would commence before the end of the year, pending resource verification and approval by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The committee chairman disclosed that Gaya Polytechnic will initially commence with four academic programmes: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Accountancy.

He noted that the committee had originally planned to begin with seven programmes but scaled down its proposal following changes to the permanent campus development plan.

According to him, the committee is working closely with the NBTE, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to ensure all regulatory requirements are met before admission begins.

Professor Kurawa also revealed that the permanent site of the polytechnic covers nearly 200 hectares, far exceeding the minimum 50 hectares required by the NBTE.

He said Governor Yusuf deliberately approved the larger land allocation to accommodate future expansion and prevent the space constraints currently experienced by some older tertiary institutions.

“The governor has demonstrated remarkable foresight by securing enough land that will allow the institution to expand over the next several decades,” he said.

He added that compensation for affected landowners was being processed, while plans were underway to fence the permanent site to prevent encroachment.

On staff recruitment, Professor Kurawa said the committee had adopted a merit-based approach by inviting qualified civil servants across Kano State, including staff of Kano State Polytechnic, to apply for deployment to the new institution.

He said applicants would undergo screening, aptitude tests and interviews to ensure only competent personnel are selected.

“Our objective is to lay a strong academic and administrative foundation that will guarantee excellence from inception,” he said.

Speaking on financial sustainability, Professor Kurawa said the institution would complement government funding by offering vocational and professional training programmes to artisans and members of the public under the National Skills Qualification Framework.

He explained that such programmes would generate internally generated revenue while helping craftsmen upgrade their skills in line with modern technology.

He also expressed confidence that support from TETFund, philanthropic organisations, corporate partners and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) would contribute significantly to the institution’s long-term sustainability.

Professor Kurawa further assured that a comprehensive handover process would be implemented once the committee concludes its assignment.

He said the implementation committee would submit a detailed report to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf covering infrastructure, staffing, finances, procurement and institutional policies before substantive principal officers and a Governing Council are appointed.

According to him, the structured transition process will ensure continuity and provide the incoming management with a solid foundation to build a world-class institution capable of driving technical education, youth empowerment and economic development in Kano State.