Trust Olaoluwa Malomo sat in his apartment in Poland, lost in thought. The journey here had been anything but easy. Not long ago, he was just a boy in Nigeria, watching his parents fight to keep the family afloat.
His father, a driver, and his mother, a public school teacher, did everything they could to support him and his siblings, but life was a relentless struggle. School fees were an ever-present burden, and the idea of higher education seemed like a distant dream.
“While government universities continue to produce graduates who struggle to find jobs, institutions like IIT prove that technical education can be a lifeline, offering real skills that lead to real opportunities.”
Then came the breakthrough: a scholarship at the Institute for Industrial Technology (IIT). It changed everything. At IIT, Trust discovered his talent for electrotechnics, excelling in a field that Nigeria’s traditional university system had long ignored.
With hands-on training and industry exposure at IIT, he graduated with distinction and was immediately recruited by Eryk in Poland. Today, he services industries across Europe, earning a stable income that provides him a comfortable life and allows him to support his parents and siblings back home.
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Trust’s story is not just his own; it is the story of countless young Nigerians born into economic hardship, left behind by a failing education system that prioritises theory over skill.
While government universities continue to produce graduates who struggle to find jobs, institutions like IIT prove that technical education can be a lifeline, offering real skills that lead to real opportunities.
A legacy of transformation
At its 25th anniversary and 16th graduation ceremony, IIT celebrated its impact, but it was also a moment of reflection, a reminder that while IIT has been fulfilling its mandate, the failure of public institutions to do the same remains glaring.
Ikechukwu Onuoma SAN, Secretary of the African Development Foundation (ADF), which oversees IIT, delivered a poignant welcome address highlighting the institution’s impact.
“Through its core values, IIT has transformed the lives of many indigent youths. In turn, these youths have transformed their families, their communities, and the nation itself,” he said.
With over 4,500 students trained so far, IIT has not only provided an education but also a lifeline. These students, many from low-income backgrounds, have gone on to become skilled technicians, engineers, and entrepreneurs.
The institution’s model proves that the right training, in partnership with the right industries, can make a tangible difference in a country plagued by unemployment.
A stark contrast: Public universities vs. IIT
Victor Braimah, Chairman of IIT’s Governing Council, was blunt in his assessment. “IIT is a social project established to address the problems of poverty and youth unemployment in Nigeria through Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET),” he noted.
“Annually, our goal is to train 1,000 students, taking most from low-income backgrounds. While public universities churn out graduates, many of them remain unemployed because they lack the technical skills the industry demands.”
In Nigeria, a degree from a government-owned university often does not equate to employability. The outdated curriculum, lack of practical training, and poor infrastructure have led to a cycle where graduates are theoretically sound but practically redundant.
IIT has broken this cycle by working directly with industry leaders to design programmes that equip students with in-demand skills.
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Industry validation: Where IIT graduates shine
The anniversary lecture was delivered by Rotimi Babatunde, a 2007 graduate of IIT (Electromechanics, Class C3) and the current MD/CEO of ADECO Engineering Ltd. In his speech, he emphasised the urgent need to prioritise vocational training. “Technical and vocational skills are critical for any country that aims to grow and drive significant change,” he stated. “In Nigeria, this remains a major gap.”
Companies that have partnered with IIT attest to its success. Cummins West Africa Ltd, through its Technical Education for Communities (TEC) programme, has witnessed firsthand how IIT graduates excel in the workforce.
Henrie, a scholarship recipient, now operates as a service engineer. Jumbo Joshua has set up his production, installation, and maintenance company.
Trust Olaoluwa Malomo, whose parents struggled to afford his fees, secured a Cummins scholarship, graduated with distinction, and now works in Poland, servicing industries across Europe while supporting his family back home. These success stories are not anomalies; they are the norm at IIT.
The IIT model: A path forward
The 109 graduates at this year’s ceremony represent a cross-section of Nigeria’s male youth population between 16 and 23 years old.
They have been trained in various fields, including electromechanics, mechatronics, waste management (GreenVET), and industry-specific programmes like the IBPLC Graduate Trainee Programme for International Breweries.
IIT’s approach has proven that vocational training is not an inferior alternative but a necessary complement to conventional education.
Located in Isheri-North, IIT remains one of Nigeria’s best-kept secrets. Many of its students come from indigent families, with tuition covered through part-scholarships, asset sales, or loans. Yet, despite the overwhelming success of IIT’s model, public universities continue to lag behind, shackled by bureaucracy, underfunding, and an outdated mindset that prioritizes theory over practice.
Industry partnerships: The backbone of IIT’s success
IIT’s success would not be possible without the support of its industry partners. These organisations provide funding, equipment, and direct employment opportunities for graduates.
Among IIT’s key partners and supporters are International Breweries, Apice Group, Friesland Campina, Krones West Africa Ltd, Promasidor, Ishk Tolaram Foundation, Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd, Adeco Project Engineering BV West Africa Ltd, Tincan Island Container Terminal, Flour Mills Nigeria PLC, Robotics Africa, PAN-Atlantic University, and many others.
Their investment in IIT reflects a shared vision for a skilled and empowered Nigerian workforce.
A global perspective: The models of industrial training
Globally, there are three dominant models of industrial training:
- The Free Market Model (e.g., the U.S. and Japan), where private companies fund training at private institutions.
- The interventionist model (e.g., France), where the state funds technical training institutes.
- The Corporatist Model (e.g., Germany), where training is a public-private partnership with standardised procedures and outcomes.
IIT’s approach aligns closely with the Corporatist Model, where industry participation ensures that graduates possess marketable skills. This stands in stark contrast to Nigeria’s government-owned universities, which operate in isolation from industry realities.
The call to action
As Nigeria struggles with rising unemployment and a stagnating industrial sector, it is time to rethink the role of education in national development. The success of IIT is a challenge to public universities, a stark reminder that technical and vocational education cannot remain on the periphery.
If the government is serious about equipping the youth for the future, it must bridge the gap between education and industry. IIT has shown the way now; it is time for policymakers to follow suit. Otherwise, Nigeria will continue to produce graduates without jobs while industries search in vain for skilled workers. The failure of public universities is not just an academic crisis; it is an economic one. And until it is addressed, institutions like IIT will remain islands of excellence in a sea of mediocrity.
