The Rector of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Ibraheem Abdul, has described the registry as the institution’s administrative backbone and called for sustained investment in staff capacity development.
He spoke at the grand finale of the 2026 Social Week of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), YABATECH chapter, in Lagos.
The two-day event began on Monday with a health walk. It ended on Tuesday with a seminar, panel session and question-and-answer segment at the Yusuf Grillo Auditorium, Yaba.
Abdul said administrative staff play critical roles in keeping the institution stable, managing records, administering personnel and carrying out management decisions.
“An institution’s greatness is not measured by its structures alone, but by the dedication, resilience and brilliance of the people who keep its wheels turning every single day,” he said.
He stressed the need for continuous professional development and a good work environment to improve staff performance and institutional effectiveness.
A deputy registrar, Joseph Ejiofor, delivered the keynote presentation. He called for stronger institutional collaboration, practical education and innovation to speed up Nigeria’s technological transformation.
Ejiofor described polytechnic education as central to building a skilled workforce and driving industrial growth. He urged polytechnics to prove their relevance through practical skills, innovation and solutions to societal problems, rather than relying only on academic certificates.
He named negative perceptions as a major obstacle, noting that society often sees polytechnic education as a second-choice option despite its contributions to technological advancement.
According to him, graduates must show practical problem-solving abilities and respond to changing industrial demands. Competence, he said, should come before certificates.
Ejiofor also called for stronger partnerships between polytechnics and industries to tackle unemployment, infrastructure deficits, technological dependence, industrial underdevelopment and skills gaps.
He recommended modern laboratories, responsive curricula and entrepreneurship programmes to improve graduates’ employability.
He further urged institutions to publicise successful graduates, innovations, industry partnerships and research achievements so the public can better understand polytechnic education.
The SSANIP chairman at YABATECH, Jason Kayode, said the Social Week was meant to recognise staff members whose often-unseen contributions sustain institutional excellence.
He said the programme also featured worship, sporting activities with sister unions, cultural celebrations involving traditional rulers and a thanksgiving service.
The chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), YABATECH chapter, Mercy Ogunbisi, congratulated SSANIP and pledged continued cooperation on staff welfare and institutional development.
The pioneer president of SSANIP at YABATECH, Biekoroma Amapakabo, described the week as a chance to strengthen solidarity among members. She commended Kayode and his team for combining work with leisure.
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