By Ishola Balogun

Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) and Wakanow, a leading travel and technology company, have sealed a deal to partner in key areas, including Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) placements, internship opportunities, industry fellowship programmes, and joint research initiatives.

This collaboration is expected to give YABATECH students a leg up in the industry and provide Wakanow with a pipeline of talented graduates.

The partnership was cemented after a courtesy visit by YABATECH officials to Wakanow’s office on March 9, 2026.

The visit, led by Dr. Engr. M. T. Ajala, Director, Centre for Linkages, Partnerships and International Relations, YABATECH, aimed to explore areas of mutual interest and strengthen industry-academia partnerships.

During the visit, Ajala highlighted areas of proposed collaboration, including curriculum upgrades for Tourism, Hospitality, Business Administration, and Computer Science.

Receiving the delegation, Wakanow’s Group CEO, Dr. Bayo Adedeji, welcomed the initiative, saying, “We are excited about this potential partnership and believe it will be a win-win for both parties.”
“Wakanow is interested in supporting these upgrades and providing industry experts as guest lecturers,” Dr Adedeji said.

Dr. Adedayo, HOD, Tourism and Management Technology, YABATECH, expressed optimism about the partnership, saying, “This collaboration will provide our students with valuable industry experience and exposure.”

Both teams expressed commitment towards drafting terms of collaboration, develop and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to guide implementation.

The proposed partnership is expected to benefit both YABATECH and Wakanow, with potential sponsorship opportunities and industry engagement for students and faculty.