The Kano State Government has handed over the School of Rural Technology and Entrepreneurship Development in Rano to the Steering Committee overseeing the establishment of the proposed Federal Polytechnic in the area.
The handover is part of preparations to facilitate the take-off of the institution, which is expected to expand access to technical education and equip young people with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf performed the handover on Friday during an inspection of facilities earmarked for the proposed polytechnic and a meeting with members of the institution’s Steering Committee.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the governor’s spokesman, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.
Yusuf assured the committee that his administration would provide the necessary support to facilitate the establishment and prompt commencement of academic activities at the institution.
The governor stressed the importance of technical education and skills acquisition, saying they were critical to preparing young people for employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
He also announced plans to upgrade facilities and improve the learning environment at the school’s new location in Sumaila Local Government Area.
According to him, improving the facilities would help provide a conducive environment for effective teaching and learning as preparations for the institution’s take-off continue.
Yusuf said the state government was committed to supporting initiatives that would increase opportunities for young people and strengthen human capital development.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Kawu Sumaila and former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, for their contributions towards the actualisation of the proposed polytechnic.
The governor also commended members of the Steering Committee for their efforts and commitment to advancing the project.
He said the institution would complement ongoing efforts to expand access to technical education while providing young people with practical skills that could improve their economic prospects.
“This project is important because technical education and skills development are essential to preparing our young people for employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance,” Yusuf said.
Speaking at the event, Senator Kawu Sumaila and Rurum thanked President Tinubu for approving the establishment of the polytechnic.
They also commended Governor Yusuf for supporting the project and expressed optimism that the institution would provide additional opportunities for young people in Kano State and beyond.
The proposed institution is expected to offer technical and vocational training while supporting skills acquisition and entrepreneurship among students.
The project is also expected to benefit communities in Rano and other parts of southern Kano by bringing tertiary-level technical education closer to residents.
A member of the Steering Committee, Senator UK Umar, meanwhile, called for the allocation of additional hectares of land for the institution.
Umar said additional land would be required to accommodate future expansion, including academic buildings, administrative facilities and other infrastructure.
He said securing adequate land at the early stage would allow the institution to develop according to a long-term master plan and avoid challenges associated with expansion in the future.
The proposed Federal Polytechnic comes amid growing calls for greater investment in technical and vocational education as Nigeria seeks to address youth unemployment, skills shortages and the increasing demand for practical education.
Technical institutions are also increasingly being viewed as important platforms for developing skilled workers, promoting entrepreneurship and supporting local economic development.
For Kano State, the establishment of the polytechnic in Rano is expected to strengthen access to technical education in the southern part of the state and provide young people with opportunities to acquire skills relevant to the labour market.
The state government’s commitment to upgrade the facilities and support the institution’s take-off is therefore expected to complement the Federal Government’s decision to establish the polytechnic.
West Trybe style reports that the handover of the School of Rural Technology and Entrepreneurship Development represents a significant step towards the take-off of the proposed Federal Polytechnic in Rano, with the success of the project now expected to depend on the completion of necessary infrastructure, adequate funding and the timely implementation of the institution’s establishment plans.
