By Samson Obande, Lafia

The management of Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic, Lafia has secured approval for thirty eight new academic programmes aimed at boosting the training of skilled technical manpower for Nasarawa State and Nigeria. 

Rector of the Polytechnic, Assoc. Prof. Nurudeen Mu’azu Maifata, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Kwararafa Times to mark his one year in office as substantive Rector.

Reviewing his one-year stewardship since his appointment by Governor Abdullahi Sule in July 2025, Assoc. Prof. Maifata described the period as “eventful and full of positive transformation” in both academic and physical development of the institution.

He attributed the milestone to the support of Governor Abdullahi Sule and timely intervention by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, and other agencies.

“With the support of Governor Abdullahi Sule and timely intervention by TETFund and other supporting agencies, the Polytechnic has secured the approval of 38 new academic programmes. This is a feat that has never been witnessed before in the history of the institution” he said.

Among the approvals, he noted, are three fully accredited engineering programmes and eight newly approved programmes set to commence. The development, he added, is ushering the Polytechnic into an era of technology-driven education in line with its mandate.

The Rector said several facilities were upgraded within the period under review, including classrooms, hostels, laboratories, workshops, e-libraries, and security infrastructure to ensure smooth academic activities and the safety of lives and property.

“When we were preparing for this accreditation, we wrote a request to the Governor and he graciously approved our financial request for procuring some state-of-the-art facilities that we actually used and that led to the accreditation of the programmes,” he stated.

He added that the institution also recruited the required manpower to meet NBTE minimum standards for accreditation.

The Centre for Vocational Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship also secured approval for 14 new National Skills Qualification programmes from NBTE under the Federal Ministry of Education.

On students’ welfare, Assoc. Prof. Maifata said his administration allocated campus hostel accommodation to students from two previously unutilized hostel facilities, a move aimed at curbing rent exploitation by landlords.

The institution’s administrative block has also been renovated and equipped with modern furnishings.

Staff welfare, he noted, has improved through regular sponsorship for training, retraining, seminars, workshops, conferences, and postgraduate studies, as well as the recent approval for implementation of the new minimum wage by Governor Sule.

The Rector acknowledged the cordial relationship between his administration, staff, and unions, and pledged to sustain an open-door policy.

“I solicit more support from all stakeholders within the Polytechnic to move the institution among the best in the remaining four years of my tenure,” he said.

In separate interviews, Deputy Rector (Administration), Dr. Ibrahim Dauda, and Director of Academic Planning, Dr. Habibu Tanimu, commended the Rector’s exemplary leadership, urging staff and students to support the administration to succeed.

Assoc. Prof. Nurudeen Mu’azu Maifata, who previously served as Acting Rector, was appointed substantive Rector by Governor Abdullahi Sule on July 1, 2025, for a five-year tenure.