By Niran Odufayo
In a significant move to strengthen media training and industry readiness among Nigerian students, the National Broadcast Academy (NBA), the training arm of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), has proposed a robust partnership with Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Nigeria’s premier higher institution.
Leading the delegation was the Director of the Academy, Dr. Samuel Anyanwu, who highlighted the shared legacy and mutual goals of both institutions. He emphasized that the Academy—established in 1957 and just a decade younger than YABATECH—seeks to deepen collaboration in professional broadcasting and media education.
“We recognize YABATECH’s legacy as the country’s first higher institution, founded in 1947, just as the FRCN is the first national radio network in Africa. This partnership is natural and long overdue,” Dr. Anyanwu stated.
He outlined NBA’s vision to offer specialized training to YABATECH students, particularly those in the Department of Mass Communication and other media-related disciplines. The collaboration aims to complement academic instruction with hands-on, industry-driven training in areas such as Radio and television presentation, Digital studio operations, Journalism and media production, Broadcasting technologies and Practical industry integration and certification
According to Dr. Anyanwu, the partnership will not only equip students with employable skills but also provide a recognized industry certificate upon completion of the program—enhancing their readiness for the professional media landscape.
The Academy also pledged access to FRCN’s extensive national network of FM stations for industrial training and internship placements. Dr. Anyanwu added that NBA’s new management is committed to building synergies with academic institutions to ensure relevance and sustainability in media education.
Commenting on the proposal, NBA’s Director of Academic Planning, Princess Adenike Adegoke, stressed the essence of the collaboration, noting that it would significantly improve the performance of future media practitioners in the country.
In response, the Rector of YABATECH, Dr. Engr. Ibraheem Adedotun-Abdul, welcomed the proposal with appreciation.
“We are thrilled by this visit and even more enthusiastic about the collaboration you propose,” he said. “At YABATECH, we are intentional about industry engagement. Our goal is not just to educate but to empower our students for the realities of the job market. Your proposal aligns perfectly with our strategic objectives.”
Dr. Adedotun-Abdul praised the NBA’s leadership and assured the visiting team of the College’s readiness to formalize and implement the collaboration. He also commended the Academy’s renewed vision under its current administration and pledged full institutional support for the initiative.
The partnership, when formalized, is expected to set a benchmark in Nigeria’s broadcast training ecosystem—fusing academic rigor with real-world experience to produce a new generation of skilled and employable media professionals.
Other members of the Academy’s delegation included the Bursar, Mrs. Kemi Idowu, and Mrs. Nike Alayande, a lecturer in the ICT Department of the NBA.
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