Tag: technical education

  • Technical education key to youth devt — Oborevwori 

    Technical education key to youth devt — Oborevwori 

    Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has described technical and vocational education as a critical tool for addressing youth unemployment, saying graduates of such institutions will emerge as skilled professionals, entrepreneurs and employers of labour rather than job seekers.

    The governor spoke on Monday at the inauguration of the Model Technical College, Omadino, in Warri South Local Government Area, describing the institution as a flagship investment in technical and vocational education by his administration.

    Oborevwori said some achievements were best appreciated when seen rather than spoken about, noting that within two years, his administration had delivered landmark projects without borrowing or imposing additional burdens on the people of Delta State.

    “Even I am often amazed at how much we have been able to achieve within two years without borrowing and without burdening the people. This project we are commissioning today is a clear example of prudent management. Contractors were paid promptly, and that is why delivery was timely,” he said.

    The governor disclosed that academic activities had commenced at the college before its formal commissioning, a development he said underscored the facility’s readiness and full functionality.

    According to him, the college represents a major milestone in advancing technical and vocational education in the state, reflecting clarity of vision, strategic planning and disciplined execution.

    He noted that the institution’s internal road network, administrative blocks, classrooms, workshops and laboratories demonstrated his administration’s commitment to quality education.

    Oborevwori commended his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, for initiating the project and said his administration ensured its completion to the required standard.

    “Today, I am pleased to see a beautiful and solid edifice standing proudly. We give God all the glory. Any student, lecturer or staff member would be proud to be associated with this institution,” he said.

    The governor also praised the quality of training at the college, citing the confidence and articulation of a student who spoke earlier at the event as evidence of effective teaching and learning.

    He emphasized that modern educational infrastructure was essential for a conducive learning environment, improved student performance and enhanced teacher effectiveness.

    “With the high-quality facilities provided here, I am confident that students of this college can compete with the best anywhere in the world. All workshops and laboratories are fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities,” Oborevwori added.

    Reaffirming his commitment to education under the MORE Agenda, the governor assured Deltans that his administration would continue to upgrade educational infrastructure across the state to ensure access to functional education and globally relevant skills.

    He, however, urged the management, staff, students and host communities to ensure proper maintenance of the facilities, stressing that government property represented the commonwealth of the people and must be protected from vandalism and neglect.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Technical Education, Mr. Smart Ufoh, described the Omadino Model Technical College as more than a modern technical school, calling it a bold statement of purpose and a symbol of transformation.

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    He said the institution had 12 classrooms and nine fully equipped workshops, alongside two hostel blocks, staff quarters, a principal’s lodge and a corps members’ lodge to ensure a conducive learning environment.

    Other facilities include a dining hall, clinic, spacious school hall, football pitch and basketball court, as well as support infrastructure such as a generator house and operational quarters.

    Ufoh disclosed that academic activities commenced in September 2025 with the admission of Junior Technical One students to prevent the facilities from lying idle, adding that the response from Omadino community and beyond had been overwhelming.

    Also speaking, Chairman of Warri South Local Government Council, Hon. Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, commended the governor for his people-centred leadership and development projects across the state.

    He described the commissioning of the college as a landmark achievement, alongside major projects such as the Trans-Warri Road and Bridges, extensive road networks, improved drainage systems and the near-completed Warri Modern Stadium.

    Agbateyiniro said development projects had reached all parts of the state within three years, adding that the people of Warri South remained firmly behind the governor ahead of 2027.

    The Olu of Warri, HRM Ogiame Atuwatse III, thanked Oborevwori for his commitment to the development of riverine communities and urged him to sustain investments in schools, bridges, roads and jetties across riverine areas.

    Speaking on behalf of the students, Miss Courtney Omotoyine described the commissioning as the fulfillment of a long-held dream and a major step toward securing the future of young people in Delta State and Nigeria.

    Dignitaries at the event included the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme; Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; and Speakers of the Edo, Bayelsa and Anambra State Houses of Assembly.

  • Vanishing polytechnics not recipe for death of technical education

    Vanishing polytechnics not recipe for death of technical education

    Sir: Lot of misgivings have trailed the federal government’s recent conversion of some polytechnics into the universities.

    Critics see the move as a major setback to the future of technical education. Yet other antagonists view it as a crystal deathly recipe for the future of technical education in the country.

    Both concerns indubitably are borne out of misconceptions and lack of understanding of government’s motivation on the issue. What have changed is the nomenclature and not necessarily the paradigm of polytechnics as the linchpin of both technical and technological education for the country.

    Rather than be a challenge to global best practices, the new move is a recipe for expanding and strengthening polytechnic education, to fulfil its pivotal role in the nation’s quest for rapid technological development.

    As polytechnics become degree awarding institutions, their graduates will necessarily receive the recognition they deserve without compromising the practical and industry-focused trainings that make them the unique catalyst for Nigeria’s technological break forth.

    In developed economies like Germany, China, Canada, United Kingdom and even France, polytechnics and conventional universities run concurrently but the goal of each type of education differs markedly. With the upgrading of polytechnics, they now produce high level manpower they previously were used to. Yet if the country is to accomplish the type of technology the current leadership envisages, then they need high level engineering personnel to break the shackles of degradation that has long held the technological development of the country comatose.

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    In the new dispensation, polytechnics will now produce their own professors and set up the criteria for achieving such academic standards, as opposed to the present academic dilemma and frustration by polytechnic lecturers. The conversion of polytechnics to universities also means upgrading the syllabus of Higher National Diploma (HND) to align with the Bachelor of Sciences degree. One of the contentious issues between the HND and BSC is the non-admissibility that the curriculums leading to the award of both degrees are the same.

    The civil service commission seems to have taken side with the universities such that the age-long bone of contention regarding salary and promotion cadres remains abysmally unresolved. The latest development will put paid to such needless controversy henceforth. Both the OND holders and qualified students with the correct WAEC or NECO qualifications can seek admissions to degree-awarding polytechnics, although the point of entry will be different. Similarly, holders of HND can also undertake a one year course for a Bachelor of Science degree in the new universities.

    Afterall, NCE holders still gain admission for degree courses at the Universities of Education which were formerly Colleges of Education. The motive seems clear: to provide high level manpower as opposed the middle level manpower with its series of cogs and obstacles to advancements later in life.

    Those staff with doctorate degrees do not need to seek career accomplishment again outside the polytechnics. Rather, like their counterparts in the universities, they should write academic/technical papers in their fields for expert assessments and evaluations to becoming associate or full professors.

    This automatically will remove the dichotomy between polytechnics and university education as their teachers can progress and attain their academic heights without swapping institutions. This is the practice globally.

    The idea of conversion will also put such polytechnics at par with the JAMB requirements for admission and which ipso-facto have removed all basis for discrimination of any kind. Rather than being a disadvantage, the conversion of some polytechnics to degree awarding institutions have much benefits to offer the country by way of its technical and technological development.

    Such conversion has neither detracted from its normal pivotal role as the body providing technical or vocational education, nor now as centres of technical and technological excellence for the overall technological development of the country.

    And finally, the move will eradicate the poor enrolment of students, many of who shun the polytechnics in preference to the universities.

    •Sunday Olagunju,Ibadan, Oyo State.

  • ‘Lagos committed to technical education’

    ‘Lagos committed to technical education’

    Lagos State Government is committed to providing gender-inclusive technical education, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), Ms Moronke Azeez, has said.

    She spoke at an annual management retreat in Lekki, Lagos with the theme: ‘Technical and Vocational Training: Key to Sustainable Development’.

    She told the participants to remain focused, to enable the agency achieve its goal of becoming a national leader in providing excellent and equitable technical and vocational training.

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    Azeez said although LASTVEB had achieved a lot, compared to where it was years ago, ‘’participants, who are the management team of the agency, should remain focused and have a sense of dedication to make students excel in technical and vocational education.’’

    She thanked the participants for contributing to the success of the transformation training and advised them not to relent.

    One of the facilitators, who is a former permanent secretary, Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye, urged the participants to communicate with their workers and organise feedback for them.  

  • Reps Committee pledges support for technical education 

    Reps Committee pledges support for technical education 

    The House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education has pledged to support the development of technical education in the country.

    This, it said, is to shore up skills required to ensure the growth of the country.

    Chairman of the Committee, Fuad Kayode Laguda, made the pledge when he led members on oversight of the National Board for Technical Education in Kaduna.

    He promised to address the challenges raised by the Executive Secretary of the NBTE, Prof Idris Bugaje,

    The Chairman said being a new committee dedicated to ensuring the development of technical education in Nigeria.

    He said the oversight to NBTE was necessary as the mother of all polytechnics and higher technical education.

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    He said the maiden oversight aimed at visiting all the polytechnics and other higher institutions dedicated to technical learning before the next budget cycle to ensure adequate funding to protect technical education in the country.

    “Our being here today is in carrying out our statutory obligation of oversight and the NBTE, known for what it is, the mother of all federal polytechnics and others, we thought it was right for us to be here before we start going around the polytechnics before the end of the year and before we start a new budget cycle. 

    “And I believe the document that has been presented to us is fully detailed and has a lot of information that you could be rest assured that we are going to go through and definitely revert back to you on it,” he said.

    He lauded the NBTE for a job well done despite the various challenges it was facing, but urged that more still needs to be done.

    He said it was necessary to consider the level at which vocational studies and skills acquisition should go and called for a detailed plan to develop them.

    “I think it’s time that we’re considering the level in which vocational studies and skill acquisition wants to go to next, I think we should get ourselves prepared. We shouldn’t let anything take us by surprise. So I think a plan that would probably have small term, medium term and long term, I think that should be brought up by you,” he said.

    The Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon Danladi Suleiman Aguye, said it was unfortunate that while Europe and China are converting their universities to polytechnics, Nigeria is converting its polytechnics to universities.

    He said polytechnics were necessary to develop skills for the youths.

    He assured that the issue would be addressed.

    This, he said, was demonstrated by the Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who ensured the constitution of a committee on technical education for the first time to address challenges facing it.

    He called for a close working relationship with the committee as he also promised to work ahead of the budget and see how funding can be improved.

    A member, Hon Akinlayo Davidson Kolawole, stressed the need for skills development, saying it was better than offering palliatives to the people to improve their welfare.

    “Palliative does not bring relief. If they have skills they should be able to put food on the table. The keynote for me to put food on the table skills development. So I think the agency needs to partner with the committee.” he said.

    Earlier in his presentation, Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof Idris Bugaje, had expressed some of the challenges facing the Board to include inadequate staff strength, regional offices, poor funding, source of IGR among others.

    Some of the challenges of existing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Nigeria include the inability to review ND/HND curricula within the five years’ time frame due to poor funding; development of Curricula that are supply driven instead of demand driven; lack of modern tools and equipment and use of obsolete equipment in TVET Institutions; stigmatization of TVET graduates including HND as being inferior and the absence of the Polytechnic Commission, he said.

    “While we warmly welcome this Honourable Committee to the NBTE, we look forward to greater collaborations to move this sector forward.

    “The struggle to upgrade NBTE to National Polytechnic Commission has started, your support is indispensable in realizing this dream.

    “Improved funding of the NBTE (or NPC) is a low hanging fruit, as it will ensure up-skilling Nigerian youths for local and global opportunities.

    “We want the Committee to take the Zonal Offices as it’s baby, ensuring they are built and staff recruited to take the NBTE to the grassroots.

    “Skills Development being championed by the NBTE shall be the real and sustainable renewal of hope for the Nigerian youths, not palliatives. As such, NBTE/NPC must be empowered to be in the forefront of the Renewed Hope Agenda of H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Prof Bugaje said.

  • ‘Technical education should be nurtured for a prosperous future’

    ‘Technical education should be nurtured for a prosperous future’

    The member representing Fufore/Song Federal Constituency in Adamawa State, Hon. Aliyu Wakili Boya, has said technical education should be nurtured to equip youths with the necessary skills for a prosperous future.

    He said this at a public hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Colleges of Education on four Bills on Thursday.

    Boya, who sponsored the Bill aimed at amending the Federal Colleges of Education Act to establish the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Fufore, Adamawa State, said it aims to elevate the standards of teachers’ education and create opportunities for growth and development, not just for our constituency but for the entire nation.

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    He said, “I wish to start by expressing my profound gratitude towards the esteemed leadership of the House of Representatives, the Chairman and Members of the Committee on FCE, and all Honourable Members of the House for their support that has propelled our Bill, to pass the second reading and progress to the committee stage and this public hearing. This endeavour holds great promise for the advancement of education in our region and beyond.

    “The focus of our proposed legislation is to provide a platform for nurturing technical education in our community, thereby equipping our youth with the necessary skills for a prosperous future. Through this Bill, we aim to elevate the standards of teachers’ education and create opportunities for growth and development, not just for our constituency but for the entire nation.

    “I am humbly soliciting for your continued support and collaboration to ensure the successful passage of this Bill into law. Together, we can make a lasting impact on teachers’ education programs and bring positive change to Nigeria.

    “Thank you for your attention and support. Let us unite our efforts and champion the cause of education for the betterment of our society.”

    Also, the member representing Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency of Gombe State, Hon Abdullahi El-Rasheed, said the hearing indicated the interest to support the comprehensive, holistic and inclusive development of the educational system

    He also sponsored one of the Bills for the amendment of the Federal Colleges of Education Act to Establish the Federal College of Education (Special) Dukku, Gombe State and for Related Matters.

    He said, “The bill was read for the first and second time on Wednesday, 8th May, 2024 and Wednesday, 22nd May, 2024 respectively which seeks to established a higher learning institution that offers courses in various field of education for teachers with special needs and students with disabilities.

    “Our gathering today clearly indicates the interest we share collectively in supporting the comprehensive, holistic and inclusive development of our educational system as a nation. As such, I most commend and appreciate our individual efforts and contributions.

    “Also, it’s worthy of importance to recognise; acknowledge and appreciate the leadership of the House of Representatives under our amiable Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen (Iyan Zazzau); the Chairman and members of the House Committee on Federal Colleges of Education and by extension the entire members of the 10th House of Representatives for their unwavering commitment and support to this important bill which clearly manifested in the expeditious process that led us to today’s public hearing.

    “Public hearing of this nature is fundamental and a cardinal component of effective; robust and people-centred lawmaking process and as such I will urge all stakeholders to freely make their presentation and comments.”

  • Youths urge enhanced technical education

    Youths urge enhanced technical education

    Youths in Ogun State has joined the world in celebrating 2024 World Youth Skills Day. This day recognises the role technical, and entrepreneurship education plays in addressing challenges ofy young people.

    In a message by state Chair of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Akolawole Shoremi, the council identifies with importance of equipping young people with practical and entrepreneurial skills.

    “As we navigate economic uncertainties and unemployment, it is essential to focus on models that provide youths with tools to succeed. Technical and Vocational Education stands out as a viable solution,” Shoremi said.

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    He urged the state to prioritise the Technical Institutions in Idi Aba, Ajegunle, Ayetoro and Ijebu Ode to deliver high-quality technical and vocational training.