Educationists, including the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education, Dr. Mas'ud Kazaure, have urged tertiary institutions to produce more graduates of industrial and technological courses in order to address the nation's developmental needs.

Others who shared the view are the Vice-Chancellor, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, Prof. Taofeek Ibrahim, and the immediate past Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Dr. Mufutau Olatinwo.

According to them, the emphasis needs to be on producing skill-equipped youths who can solve the industrial and technological needs of the nation.

While Ibrahim spoke during the 11th matriculation of the university, Kazaure and Olatinwo spoke in Offa, during the valedictory ceremony for the latter.

Olatinwo just completed his tenure as the rector of the polytechnic.

Kazaure, who commended Olatinwo's developmental strides, said it was imperative for academic institutions to train craftsmen, technicians and technologists that would provide the needed manpower in the country.

He said, "We have too much of Business Administration and Public Administration diploma holders. Let us train more technology and engineering students."

Olatinwo, who called for the judicious management of resources, urged the Federal Government to inaugurate policies and programmes that would make the nation's higher institutions more relevant and globally competitive.

Ibrahim, who sought early exposure of pupils to engineering and other science-based courses, said it would help to prepare them for engineering education at the tertiary institutions.

Ibrahim said, "The point is that the government and the society need to plan and work for more science-based education from the scratch.

"To what extent are children feeling about science? Are there sufficient human resources who are grounded and qualified to teach science? Is the equipment that students need for science education available?