The Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) and Sterling Bank Plc. have entered into a strategic partnership to close gaps between academic training and industry requirements through the launch of a structured work-study programme for students.
This is contained in a statement signed by by the Deputy Registrar of YABATECH, Mr Adekunle Adams, on Friday.
Adams outlined the objectives of the MoU and the implementation framework.
He said that the partnership was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the college.
He said that the MoU was aimed at integrating classroom learning with practical workplace experience to ensure that students would graduate with relevant, market-ready and competitive skills.
Adams quoted the Group Head of Sterling Academy, Mr Kola Oluyemi, as saying that the initiative reflected the bank’s commitment to building a future-ready workforce through deliberate collaboration, aligning academic training with real industry needs to address youth unemployment.
According to Adams, Oluyemi said that the partnership was a response to graduate employability challenges and the disconnect between school curricula and workplace expectations, enabling participants to acquire professional competencies alongside academic qualifications.
“The initiative targets National Diploma graduates and undergraduates, who will combine paid employment at Sterling Bank with continued academic studies, while also benefiting from scholarships supported by the bank under the Grow with Sterling initiative.”
Adams quoted the Rector of YABATECH, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, as describing the partnership as a strategic step to reposition technical education, producing graduates who would be academically sound, practically skilled and equipped with meaningful industry exposure.
He also quoted Dr Mas’ud Ajala, Director, Centre for Linkages, Partnership and International Relations, YABATECH, as saying that the programme responded to labour market realities.
He said said that National Diploma graduates were highly sought-after while the college had committed to full implementation.
Adams said that both institutions expressed confidence that the partnership would serve as a national model, adding that the implementation would soon begin.
