The Nigerian government has sealed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China to enhance Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, emphasised that the partnership would equip Nigerians with hands-on skills, strengthen technical education, and improve the implementation of vocational training nationwide.
Sani-Gwarzo said; “This collaboration will significantly enhance Nigeria’s technical capacity, ensuring that knowledge gained is effectively applied.
“From what I have observed in China, I believe that whatever we sign today is just the beginning of a long-term relationship.”
According to him, the MOU is a product of rigorous back-and-forth discussions involving extensive internal consultations, allowing for assessment of the benefits and gaps as well.
“It took an unusually long time to reach this point, but I believe that was beneficial,” he said
Sani-Gwarzo said that the document is not legally binding in strict legal terms but is technically binding in terms of partnership and mutual support. He said the document is unique and flexible as it allows for expansion.
“We will work together based on this understanding, and what makes this document unique is that it allows room for future expansion in scope, improvement in depth, and enhancement in the quality of our collaboration. It is a very flexible document.
“Although it does not have legal implications that would require court settlements, it ensures that any disputes will be resolved through dialogue. It also provides the opportunity to bring in other stakeholders.
“If we wish for you to collaborate with our agencies, we can facilitate that through this agreement. If we want you to work with the states, we can also introduce them through this. Furthermore, if we decide to expand beyond specific aspects of technical education (which is at the core of this partnership), we have the liberty to explore other dimensions within the agreed context,” he said.
Sani-Gwarzo emphasised that partnering with China is the best thing to do as the country is moving in the right direction globally adding that a new ranking of the world’s top 100 universities was recently released and remarkably, the first 27 out of the 100 are all from China.
He said; “Anyone who follows global development trends knows, China is moving in the right direction. Partnering with China will undoubtedly benefit any country aiming for progress—that is indisputable.
“I pray that one day, even if I am no longer here, you will call me and say, Look at what we started as a small initiative—it has now grown into a major force that people can rely on. I hope that very soon, we will start seeing the rewards of this hard work.”
A director with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation CCECC, Mr.John Zhao, who represented the company, said that based on the MOU, the company is committed to bringing in the best of its expertise to enhance skills acquisition and advance the country of Nigeria.
“We are committed to bringing as much expertise, technology, and equipment as possible to Nigeria. We are determined and confident that we can advance together with Nigeria.
“With this MoU, we can collaborate on high-level initiatives to implement tangible improvements. Our proposal follows a systematic approach to addressing the challenges in Nigeria’s education sector,” he said.
Mr. Zhao said the partnership aligned with the development agenda of President Bola Tinubu-led administration as it gives priority to education.
“There is much more to accomplish after the MoU is signed. Given Nigeria’s current administration’s prioritization of education, this partnership aligns well with national development goals,” he said
Voice of Nigeria reports that Nigeria, in recent times, has increased emphasis on Technical and Vocational education to enhance skills acquisition, which is believed will lead to employment opportunities for the teaming youth and engender development in the nation.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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