Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), one of Nigeria's premier polytechnics, has achieved a major milestone in engineering education by obtaining Outcome-Based Education (OBE) accreditation from the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) for its Higher National Diploma (HND) programs in Mechanical Engineering Technology and Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technology.
The accreditation was announced on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, following a thorough visitation and peer-review exercise conducted by COREN. The process involved inspections of laboratories, workshops, libraries, health facilities, and sports amenities, alongside reviews of academic records, staff qualifications, student coursework, and direct engagements with faculty, technical staff, and students.
COREN's team lead, Abdulkarim Nasir, praised YABATECH for pioneering OBE-based accreditation among Nigerian polytechnics. He highlighted the institution's adequate facilities, qualified manpower, positive industry feedback, reliable power supply, and strong student performance. Nasir explained that OBE ensures ND and HND graduates are practically equipped for global engineering practice, meeting internationally defined learning outcomes and operational competencies required of engineering technologists and technicians.
“This accreditation aligns Nigeria’s polytechnic engineering technology education with global benchmarks set by the Sydney and Dublin Accords of the International Engineering Alliance,” Nasir stated. He noted that Nigeria's 2023 provisional admission into the Washington Accord for engineering degrees has paved the way for similar recognition in engineering technology and technician programs through the Sydney and Dublin Accords, which focus on technologists and technicians respectively.
The Sydney Accord recognizes academic programs for engineering technologists, while the Dublin Accord covers engineering technicians, both promoting international mobility, mutual recognition of qualifications, and enhanced professional relevance worldwide.
YABATECH Rector, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, reaffirmed the institution's dedication to OBE compliance, ongoing staff capacity building, and continuous upgrades to facilities. “We are committed to enhancing graduate employability and global competitiveness,” he said.
COREN also issued a stern reminder that operating unaccredited or expired engineering technology programs contravenes statutory rules, rendering graduates ineligible for professional registration regardless of future accreditation.
This development positions YABATECH as a strategic national platform and strengthens Nigeria's efforts toward full signatory status in the Sydney and Dublin Accords. It promises improved international recognition for Nigerian polytechnic graduates, greater opportunities for cross-border work, and alignment with global best practices in technical education.
The achievement underscores growing momentum in Nigeria's push for quality assurance in engineering and technology training, benefiting students, industries, and the nation's human capital development.
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