The Chairman, Governing Council, Kwara State Polytechnic, Prof. Shehu Jimoh, and Kwara Poly's rector, Alhaji Mas'ud Elelu, have said that a veritable strategy to combat graduate unemployment is to enhance technical knowledge and skills by equipping polytechnics in the country to effectively discharge their roles.

Both men spoke during the institution's end of session/special recognition summit in Ilorin on Monday.

They stated that polytechnic education would equip students with skills that would make them job creators and even employers of labour rather than being prospective job seekers.

They said with the current emphasis on entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises development, polytechnics would greatly assist to make graduates wealth creators.

They said poor economy was the cause of the controversy over the disparity between holders of university degrees and Higher National Diploma graduates.

They called on the federal and state governments, corporate organisations as well as other stakeholders to invest more in polytechnic education.

Jimoh stated that higher ethical conduct and sound decision making were essential for the growth of the polytechnic education.

He said the moral decay being displayed by some students was not progressive, adding that all stakeholders, government at all levels, parents and guardians should intensify efforts to ensure discipline among students and advance polytechnic education.

Elelu said the disparity between first degree and HND holders would not have become an issue if the Nigerian economy was booming.

He noted that the disparity was only being experienced in government institutions, adding that those in the private sector were more concerned with the productivity and technical competences of their employees rather than undue emphasis on first degree.

According to him, economic boom will lead to the establishment of more industries and employment of many people by the private sector, which is more attuned to higher output.

He appealed to the government and all stakeholders to work towards ensuring that the economy improved.

He added that with the improvement in the economy, polytechnic graduates could practise the technical knowledge they had learnt and do more researches.

According to him, disparity is only experienced in the public sector and can be avoided if the economy is fixed and people do what they are skilled to do.

"When we were in school, the polytechnic graduates were respected and expected in the industries hands on, while the university graduates were in the government and ministries etc.

"So, if the economy was going on and our industries were up and doing, nobody would be talking of disparity. Disparity is only in the public sector.

"The private sector does not know anything about disparity, what it knows is result and achievements. So, if our economy is functioning well and our industries are functioning, there will be anything like disparity," Elelu said.