As part of efforts to improve the development of manpower in the country, the Federal Government on Thursday, May 14, in Abuja presented operational licences to four new private polytechnics and 34 Innovation Enterprise Institutions and Vocational Enterprise Institutions.

The new polytechnics are Nacabs Polytechnic, Akwanga, Nasarawa State; Uyo City Polytechnic, Akwa Ibom State; The Polytechnic, Igbo-Owu, Kwara State and Balmor Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Speaking at the licence presentation in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, said that the polytechnics, IEIs and VEIs were expected to focus on applied learning that would be relevant to the development needs of the country.

"The Federal Government, in realisation of the need for appropriate manpower to the developmental needs of the country, opened the way for the private sector to participate in technological drive. The main problem confronting the sector is that of articulation, placement and progression of graduates from these institutions. I assure that stakeholders will work hard to solve these problems," he said