The Nigeria-Korea Friendship Institute (NKFI) of Vocational and Advanced Technology, Lokoja, has obtained full accreditation for all its academic programmes from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The Rector of the institute, Dr. Charles Williams, disclosed this on Sunday in Lokoja.
Williams listed the accredited programmes to include Automotive Mechatronics, Welding and Fabrication, Electrical/Electronic Technology, and Computer Software Engineering.
He noted that the institute had achieved a remarkable 500 per cent growth in student enrollment within three years.
“NKFI’s student population rose from 40 in September 2022 when I assumed office to over 900 as of September 2025,” he said.
The rector added that new programmes such as Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Robotics had been introduced, alongside distance learning initiatives for remote education.
According to him, the institution also recorded a 200 per cent increase in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), upgraded infrastructure, improved campus security, and launched an academic portal and official website.
He further highlighted the creation of new directorates, including Student Services and Academic Planning, as well as the signing of over 10 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with local and international partners like Kogi Polytechnic, Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), and the African Development Study Centre (ADSC).
Williams said NKFI had trained more than 250 youths in eight vocational areas and provided them with free starter packs under the Kogi Youth Empowerment and Skill Acquisition (KOYESA) programme.
Speaking on future plans, he revealed that the institute had secured a permanent site and would soon establish a part-time study centre at Obajana, home to the Dangote Cement Factory.
“We have also developed key policy documents, including an academic and strategic master plan tagged Vision 2030,” he added.
The rector commended the Korean Government for its continuous support through staff and student training programmes, which he said align with NKFI’s mission to drive vocational and technological advancement.
Williams also expressed gratitude to former Governor Yahaya Bello for his leadership and to Governor Ahmed Ododo for sustaining the vision of empowering Kogi youth through skill-based and technology-driven education.