A Visit That Prompted a Closer Look
Last Monday, I visited the office of the newly appointed Director of the Innovation and Vocational Enterprise Institute, Dr. Garba Alhaji Adamu, popularly known as Dr. G.A., following an invitation he extended to me shortly after his appointment by the management of Kano State Polytechnic.
The meeting left a strong personal impression. From the moment I entered his office, his calm, respectful and welcoming manner was evident. I met him in the company of a like-minded colleague and Dr. Aliyu Umar, whom I had known during my years of service at the School of Technology and who was then Head of the Pharmaceutical Department.
After the exchange of greetings, Dr. G.A. offered me a seat opposite him, creating a relaxed atmosphere for the discussion that followed. It was a simple encounter, but it reinforced my impression of him as a person who carries himself with humility, courtesy and respect for others.
Without wasting time, I sought more information about the institute. This is because despite spending ten years at the School of Technology, I had never been close to the institute, let alone known much about its activities and programmes.
Dr. Garba, too, wasted no time in opening up to me and explaining in detail the activities, programmes and overall operations of the institute.
FROM CLASSROOM TO ENTERPRISE
At a time when practical skills, employability and entrepreneurship are increasingly central to conversations about education, the Innovation and Vocational Enterprise Institute (IVEI) of Kano State Polytechnic is positioning itself around a simple proposition: education should not end with the acquisition of certificates; it should also open pathways to practical competence and enterprise.
An Institute with a Broad Mandate
A review of the institute’s profile shows a mandate that extends beyond conventional academic programmes. IVEI describes itself as a specialised technical and vocational training arm operating under Kano State Polytechnic, under the leadership of the Polytechnic’s Rector, Dr. Abubakar Umar Farouk, FCA; who is a Rector that earned his reputation as an enterprising and skill-loving bureaucrat.
The institute’s stated objective is to bridge the gap between formal technical education and practical, market-ready skills. Its programme portfolio includes National Diploma (ND), National Skills Qualification (NSQ), National Vocational Certificate (NVC), and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.
National Diploma Programmes
For students seeking a formal National Diploma qualification, the institute offers five ND programmes: Electrical Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Renewable Energy, Banking and Finance, and Computer Engineering.
The programmes run for two years, comprising four semesters, and combine theoretical instruction with practical laboratory and workshop training. The areas covered include electrical installation and power systems, programming and software applications, renewable energy systems, banking and financial management, computer hardware, networking, and information technology infrastructure.
According to Dr. GA, successful ND graduates may proceed to relevant Higher National Diploma (HND) or degree programmes, subject to the admission requirements of the receiving institution, or enter the workforce with relevant industrial training experience.
Skills for Immediate Economic Activity
One of the institute’s distinctive features is its National Skills Qualification programme, which is designed around competency-based and practical training. Courses listed in the profile include:
- Vulcanising and tyre repair
- Networking and systems security installation
- Electrical installation
- Automotive mechatronics
- Satellite and CCTV installation
- Welding and fabrication
- Computer hardware repair
- Home electrical appliance repair
- Furniture making and upholstery
The institute states that entry-level NSQ trade courses do not strictly require a previous academic certificate. Applicants are expected to have basic literacy and numeracy, an interest in the chosen trade, and the physical aptitude required for the area of training.
NVC and TVET: Reaching Beyond Full-Time Students
IVEI also offers National Vocational Certificate programmes in welding and fabrication, computer studies, carpentry and joinery, and fashion and design.
Its TVET activities are designed to reach a wider group and, according to the institute, include short-term skills-acquisition workshops and boot camps; apprenticeship and industrial attachment placements; entrepreneurship and small-business management training; skills upgrading and re-certification for practising artisans; and community outreach and mobile training clinics.
The range of activities means that the institute is not focused solely on full-time students. Its programmes are also intended for out-of-school youth, practising artisans and community members seeking to acquire or upgrade practical skills.
Learning by Doing
Practical training is central to the institute’s profile. Its approach includes laboratory work, workshop-based instruction, project-based learning, entrepreneurship development, industrial attachment, industry-led seminars and workshops, community-based innovation projects, and digital learning technologies.
The facilities listed by the institute include electrical and electronics laboratories, computer laboratories, renewable-energy demonstration units, automotive and welding workshops, a tyre-repair practical bay, a CCTV and satellite installation laboratory, a furniture and upholstery workshop, banking and finance simulation facilities, and a library and e-learning centre.
Turning Skills into Enterprise
Beyond technical competence, the institute places considerable emphasis on entrepreneurship. Its programmes integrate basic business management and bookkeeping, while the institute provides guidance on equipment acquisition and micro-financing options.
It also seeks to establish linkages with cooperative societies and artisan associations and encourages group or cluster enterprises among graduates.
For many young people, acquiring a skill is only the beginning. The longer-term objective may be to use that skill to secure employment or establish a sustainable source of income. The institute’s profile identifies employment, further education and self-employment as three broad pathways for its graduates.
Potential enterprise areas identified in the profile include electrical contracting, solar installation, software and web development, computer repair, CCTV installation, welding, automotive services, furniture production and other businesses.
An Opportunity for Kano’s Young People and Beyond
The Innovation and Vocational Enterprise Institute presents a model that connects education with practical skills and enterprise. At a time when many young people are seeking employable skills and opportunities to establish businesses, vocational and technical education can serve as an alternative or complementary pathway to conventional academic education.
The institute’s stated vision is to provide trained and skilled technical manpower capable of competing in a global economy. Its mission combines science, technology and engineering education with entrepreneurial thinking, skills development and character formation.
Greater public awareness of these activities could help more prospective students, young entrepreneurs, practising artisans and other interested members of the community understand the range of opportunities available through technical and vocational education.
Where to Find the Institute
The Innovation and Vocational Enterprise Institute is located at the School of Technology premises of Kano State Polytechnic, Matan Fada Road, Kano.
Those interested in its programmes can contact the institute at the address above or visit www.ivei.edu.ng for information about its admission portal and current application deadlines.
A Practical Pathway Worth Exploring
The institute’s programme mix spans National Diploma qualifications, trade-based skills training, vocational certificates and shorter TVET opportunities for people who want to acquire or upgrade practical skills.
Its broader significance lies in the possibility of connecting learning with productive activity. By combining technical training with entrepreneurship and practical experience, IVEI’s stated mandate is not simply to prepare young people to look for jobs, but also to equip them with skills that can form the foundation for productive enterprise.
