Federal Polytechnic, Bali

Federal Polytechnic, Bali is a federal institution of technical and vocational education located on the Bali-Jalingo Road in Bali, Taraba State, north-eastern Nigeria. It was established following Federal Executive Council approval on 14 March 2007, and it offers Certificate, National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND), ordinary diploma and online distance-learning ND programmes.

The Federal Ministry of Education set up a Ministerial Task Force chaired by Dr Nuru Yakubu, a former Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), to ensure a speedy take-off. The Taraba State Government and Bali Local Government Authority donated facilities and structures for the start-up, including a 500-hectare site along the Bali-Jalingo Road for the permanent campus. The polytechnic has a Governing Council, an Academic Board (the Rector as chairman, the Polytechnic Librarian, Deans of schools, Heads of Department and the Registrar as secretary), and a staff strength of 351, made up of 110 academic and 241 non-academic staff.

The campus has 13 blocks of 25 classrooms and offices, a multi-purpose hall, a library complex seating 500, a 2,500-seat lecture theatre, an auditorium and a students centre. An ICT centre accommodates 150 students at a time, with an extension planned for 280. A clinic serves staff and students, with ante-natal, delivery and ward services, and is registered with the national health insurance scheme as a Primary Health Care Provider.

Student life includes a hostel currently accommodating 328 students, with provision for more, and sports facilities comprising two badminton courts, a tennis court, basketball and volleyball courts and a football pitch. A staff club provides indoor and outdoor games and visitor hotel accommodation. The ICT unit also offers short courses in computer applications, web and software development, networking, cyber security and UX/UI design, as well as JAMB-related services such as registration and printing of admission letters.

Student population has grown from about 1,608 at inception to 6,218, and 3,467 students have graduated since 2010 (3,162 at Certificate level and 305 at National Diploma level). ND programmes were approved by the NBTE after resource and accreditation visits in 2010 and 2011. Admission to Higher National Diploma, National Diploma and Certificate programmes is made through the online application portal, and students admitted by JAMB for ND complete online screening on the portal.