By Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
The Steering Committee of the proposed Yobe Institute for Biomedical Engineering Technology (YIBET) has paid a working visit to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in Kaduna as part of ongoing efforts to secure the regulatory guidance, institutional partnership and technical support required for the successful establishment of the institute.
A statement by Ibrahim Baba Saleh who is the Media Coordinator/Liasion Officer in the office of the SSG said that the NBTE, Nigeria’s apex regulatory body for technical and vocational education and the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF), would play a significant role in the accreditation, curriculum development and institutional framework of the proposed institute.
The YIBET delegation led by the Chairman of the Steering Committee, Prof. Mohammed Bello Kawuwa, alongside the Institute’s Technical Consultant, Dr. Abdulkareem Karasuwa, was received by the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Professor Idris Mohammed Bugaje, in company of the Board’s top management, comprising of directors of key departments responsible for institutional development, skills qualifications, curriculum standards and quality assurance.
Speaking during the engagement, Prof. Kawuwa said the visit was aimed at formally introducing the proposed institute to Nigeria’s foremost technical education regulator while seeking its partnership, technical guidance and institutional support towards laying a solid foundation for YIBET.
He explained that the establishment of YIBET represents one of Governor Mai Mala Buni’s strategic investments in human capital development, healthcare innovation and technological advancement, adding that the institute is envisioned to become a Centre of Excellence in Biomedical Engineering Technology that will serve not only Yobe State but Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
According to him, the institute is being conceived to bridge the existing gap in biomedical engineering education, clinical engineering services, healthcare equipment management, medical technology innovation and the production of highly skilled technical professionals capable of supporting modern healthcare systems.
He further noted that Governor Buni’s administration remains committed to providing the enabling environment, infrastructure and legislative backing necessary for the successful establishment of the institute, while appealing to NBTE to provide the required regulatory support, technical expertise and institutional guidance to ensure YIBET commences operations in line with national and international best practices.
On his part, the NBTE Executive Secretary, Professor Idris Bugaje, commended Governor Mai Mala Buni for what he described as his visionary leadership and sustained investment in strengthening healthcare infrastructure, education and human capital development.
He described the decision to establish the Yobe Institute for Biomedical Engineering Technology as a bold and forward-looking initiative that aligns with the Federal Government’s drive to expand technical education, strengthen healthcare systems and produce industry-ready professionals equipped with relevant 21st-century skills.
Prof. Bugaje assured the delegation of NBTE’s full commitment to partnering with Yobe State in advancing Biomedical and Clinical Engineering Technology, noting that the proposed institute has the potential to become a national reference point for specialised technical education and healthcare technology training.
He observed that the rapid pace of technological advancement across the healthcare sector has made it imperative to review existing academic programmes, stressing that NBTE is already considering the unbundling of the current Higher National Diploma (HND) in Biomedical Engineering Technology into more specialised programmes that reflect emerging global trends and industry demands.
He therefore invited YIBET to actively collaborate with the Board in shaping the new curriculum and contributing to the ongoing national reforms in biomedical and clinical engineering education.
The Executive Secretary also advised the Yobe State Government to expedite the enactment of the law establishing the institute as well as the appointment of its substantive Director-General, explaining that both steps would facilitate the commencement of formal regulatory processes, programme accreditation and institutional development.
During the technical session, the Institute’s Technical Consultant, Dr. Abdulkareem Karasuwa, highlighted the importance of embedding innovation, research, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies into the institute’s academic programmes.
He advocated for the development of curricula that are industry-driven and aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and other international competency standards to ensure graduates possess practical, globally competitive skills capable of addressing contemporary healthcare challenges.
Dr. Karasuwa further emphasized the need for strong collaboration between academia, industry and healthcare institutions to position YIBET as a hub for research, innovation, equipment maintenance, technology transfer and workforce development in biomedical and clinical engineering.
Following extensive deliberations, Professor Bugaje directed the Board’s relevant departments to immediately commence technical engagements with the YIBET Steering Committee on institutional establishment requirements, curriculum development, accreditation procedures, statutory guidelines, quality assurance mechanisms and other regulatory processes necessary for the smooth take-off of the institute.
The discussions also explored opportunities for long-term collaboration in specialised skills development, curriculum innovation, staff capacity building, research partnerships and the advancement of biomedical engineering education in Nigeria.
Highlight of the visit include the presentation of NBTE souvenirs to the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the YIBET Steering Committee as well as the Technical Consultant in recognition of the strategic engagement and the shared commitment of both institutions towards establishing a world-class biomedical engineering institute in Yobe State.
