By DAYO ADESULU
In a bold move to reposition itself for global recognition and competitiveness, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has trained and certified 34 members of staff as professional institutional rankers, signalling a new phase in the institution’s drive toward international visibility and world-class academic standards.
The six-week intensive capacity-building programme, titled “Mastering University Rankings for Global Visibility,” was facilitated by the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE) under the leadership of renowned education scholar, Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, OFR.
The programme, coordinated by the College’s Human Resource Development Centre, equipped participants with advanced knowledge of major international ranking systems, including Times Higher Education (THE), QS Rankings, ARWU, Webometrics, AD Scientific Index, and Clarivate Analytics.
Presenting the report of the training to the College Management Committee, the Director, Human Resource Development Centre, Dr. Moruf Adebakin, disclosed that the performance of the participants placed YABATECH among the leading institutions in the programme.
According to him, 18 participants graduated with distinction, 10 with credit, two with merit, while one earned a pass, bringing the total number of successful participants to 34.
He further revealed that all successful participants were inducted as pioneer members of the newly established Association of Ranking Professionals (ARP), founded by Professor Peter Okebukola, making them certified “Chartered Rankers” with expertise in global institutional ranking systems.
Dr. Adebakin noted that the training exposed a critical gap in global academic visibility for polytechnics, observing that no Nigerian polytechnic currently features prominently in major international ranking platforms except marginally in Webometrics, where YABATECH’s position remains distant from global leaders.
He explained that the newly trained professionals now understand the requirements for institutional ranking excellence, particularly in areas such as research visibility, Google Scholar indexing, Scopus profiling, citation impact, digital presence, and institutional data management.
“Where members of staff are not visible on Google Scholar, Scopus, and other global academic databases, it ultimately affects the institution’s overall ranking performance. Institutional visibility is the cumulative effect of the visibility and productivity of individual scholars,” he said.
To address this challenge, Dr. Adebakin proposed the establishment of a Global Ranking Committee for the College, charged with developing a strategic framework that would guide staff and departments on the requirements for international ranking participation and performance.
According to him, with proper implementation, YABATECH could begin to compete favourably with top African and global institutions within the next two years.
“There is nothing those institutions have that we do not have. The ranking ecosystem may currently appear university-dominated, but there is no reason a foremost technology institution like YABATECH cannot feature prominently if we deliberately do what is required,” he stated.
He also commended the participants for sponsoring themselves through the rigorous programme without institutional funding, describing their commitment as a rare demonstration of dedication to institutional advancement.
“These staff members invested their personal resources not only to develop themselves but also to project the image and reputation of Yaba College of Technology globally. We must not allow such expertise to go untapped,” he added.
Responding, the Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Engr. Ibraheem Abdul, praised the participants for their commitment, patriotism, and passion for excellence, describing their achievement as a proud moment for the institution.
“On behalf of the management and the entire College community, I congratulate the global rankers of Yaba College of Technology. It is inspiring to see members of staff pursuing excellence and promoting the image of the College without asking what personal benefits they stand to gain,” the Rector said.
He noted that while institutions often spend huge sums sponsoring staff for trainings with little measurable outcomes, the YABATECH participants distinguished themselves through exceptional performance and institutional impact.
“There are cases where institutions sponsor people for programmes and nothing tangible comes out of it. But these officers went on their own, excelled, and returned with knowledge and expertise that will transform this institution. We are extremely proud of them,” he said.
The Rector subsequently directed that letters of commendation be issued to all the participants in recognition of their outstanding performance and contributions to institutional development.
He also endorsed the proposal for the establishment of a Global Ranking Committee drawn from the certified participants to develop both internal and external ranking frameworks for the College.
In addition, the Rector approved a cascading training model that would allow the newly trained rankers to transfer their knowledge to academic and non-academic staff across all schools and units of the institution.
He directed the Human Resource Development Centre and the Staff Development and Training Unit to coordinate school-based training sessions aimed at institutionalising a culture of research visibility, academic excellence, and global competitiveness throughout the College.
According to him, the College would sponsor the internal cascading trainings, while the certified rankers would serve as resource persons and institutional experts.
“We must do everything necessary to ensure that YABATECH attains a strong ranking nationally, continentally, and globally. This is not just about prestige; it is about visibility, credibility, partnerships, and institutional growth,” the Rector emphasized.
The event concluded with a group photograph session involving the Rector, members of management, and the 34 newly certified global ranking professionals.
The latest initiative further reinforces YABATECH’s growing reputation as a forward-looking institution committed to innovation, capacity development, digital scholarship, and global academic relevance as it advances toward its vision of becoming a globally recognised university of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and excellence.
Captions: The rector, Yaba College of Technology, Dr Engr Ibraheem Abdul (m) principal officers of the college and thirty-four members of staff that were trained as chartered rankers at their presentation to the College Management Committee
