NBTE Approves Federal Polytechnic Ukana as Skill Training Centre

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has granted approval to Federal Polytechnic Ukana, Akwa Ibom State, to operate as a Skill Training Centre (STC).

The approval followed an application and subsequent verification visit to the institution.

A document conveying the decision, dated August 13, 2025, confirmed that the Polytechnic can now run and certify training programmes in fourteen vocational areas. These are:

• Fashion design
• Leather work
• Paint making
• Painting and decoration
• Web application development
• Computer hardware maintenance
• Mobile phone repairs
• Automobile mechanics
• Refrigeration and air conditioning repairs
• Welding and fabrication
• Plumbing and pipe fitting
• Electrical installation
• Masonry
• Carpentry and joinery

Under the new arrangement, the Sectoral Awarding Body will conduct assessments for trainees, while the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) will issue certificates.

Rector of the Polytechnic, Ambassador (Mrs) Eduma Enobong Essien, described the approval as a significant achievement for the institution and the country. She noted that the recognition aligns with the Polytechnic’s mandate of producing graduates equipped with practical and industry-relevant skills. “This milestone validates our facilities, competence, and commitment to training that directly impacts employability and national development,” Essien said.

The Polytechnic’s Public Relations Officer, Comrade Daka Tamunosiki Albert, added that the approval would create more opportunities for students and the surrounding community, particularly in areas of technical training and job creation.

With the endorsement, Federal Polytechnic Ukana has strengthened its position as a key player in vocational and technical education in Nigeria.