The National Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE) and Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) are partnering to host the 2025 Technology Conference in Lagos. The event, scheduled for November 12-14, aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
The conference will be held at the Digital Bridge Institute in Oshodi. It’s expected to bring together technologists, academics, industry leaders, and policymakers.
Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, the Rector of Yabatech, stated that the partnership will boost Nigeria’s technology ecosystem. He affirmed the institution’s commitment to providing full support for the conference. The collaboration shows a strong effort to connect classroom knowledge with real-world applications.
The rector noted that the collaboration was timely, describing it as a step that would deepen the relationship between academia and industry.
“This conference is so significant because it will bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace.
“We want to erase the narrative that graduates are not ready for industry. By working together with professionals, we can correct that impression,” he said.
In his remarks, NATE National General Secretary Mr. Kayode Ibidapo, commended Yabatech for its historical role as the cradle of engineering education in Nigeria.
According to him, the institution has remained a symbol of practical, skill-based training since its establishment in 1948.
He explained that the forthcoming conference would provide a platform for technologists to present innovative solutions while encouraging students to embrace professionalism and production for societal needs.
“We want graduates who can stand on their own without waiting for white-collar jobs. This collaboration is about building young technologists who can go into production and make Nigeria better,” he added.
Ibidapo lamented Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imports, saying it was undermining national development.
“If we should follow the standard set by institutions such as Yabatech, Nigeria will not need to import so much.
“Our forebears produced engineers who became self-reliant, but today we import what we can make locally. That must change,” he said.
The NATE scribe also revealed that the conference would feature an exhibition of Nigerian-made machines and innovations to showcase local capacity.
He listed some of the machines designed by Nigerian technologists as including a coconut de-shelling machine, a castor oil extractor, a butter making machine and a tiger nut processing machine.
“These machines are proof that Nigerians can innovate and build equipment that solves local problems.
“The conference will give us the opportunity to showcase these achievements,” he said.
Ibidapo stressed that NATE’s mission was to encourage knowledge sharing between professionals and academic institutions while inspiring students to apply their training to solve real-life problems.
“Our collaboration with Yabatech is not only about this conference but about laying a foundation for a culture of innovation, productivity and industry-academia synergy,” he said.
