As part of efforts to promote social sector reform and development, the House of Representatives has recognised the need to address the multi-faceted challenges across the various segments of the education sector, one of which is technical education.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas gave the indication in Abuja, at a Public Hearing on Two Bills, the proposed Federal Polytechnic, Adikpo, Benue State and the proposed National College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition, Illela, Sokoto State.
The speaker said that the House believed that reforming and modernising technical education was crucial for developing skills that were necessary for propelling Nigeria’s economic growth and development.
“To achieve this, we made a commitment to amend existing laws or introduce new ones to improve Nigeria’s technical and vocational education. The two bills before us today, therefore, represent this commitment and further underscore our holistic approach to improving the entire education sector. A few days ago, precisely on Monday 24th February, 2025, the House held a public hearing on ten (10) bills seeking to establish colleges of education across various regions of the country,” Mr. Abbas said.
He also said that in recent years, there has been an increasing recognition of the critical role that technical and vocational education plays in national development.
“ It is no longer sufficient for our educational institutions to merely impart theoretical knowledge; we must also equip our youths with practical skills that will enable them to thrive in a fast-evolving global economy that is characterized by stiff competition. Therefore, the establishment of these institutions is a crucial step in our resolve to bridge the gap between knowledge and employment,” he said.
The Speaker said that the proposed Federal Polytechnic, Adikpo, Benue State is expected to provide essential training opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs in science, technical education and management science.
“It is envisaged that this Polytechnic will focus on equipping individuals with management, technical and entrepreneurial skills, necessary for fostering innovation, and economic growth and development,” he said.
He also said that the proposed National College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition, Illela, Sokoto State would address specific needs of those seeking entrepreneurial knowledge and skills tailored to meet local business needs.
“As a border community, establishing this institution in Illela will not only boost commercial activities and international trade, it will also take our youth out of poverty, unemployment and cross-border crimes such as banditry, trafficking, smuggling and drug abuse, ensuring their creative energy is channeled to productive ventures” he said.
Mr. Abbas added that overall, by aligning educational programs with regional economic activities, Nigeria can empower communities through skill acquisition and development while also addressing unemployment challenges.
Call For Support
The Chairman House Committee On Federal Polytechnics And Higher Technical Education, Mr. Fuad Kayode Laguda called for support for the passage of the two Bills into Law.
According to him, the bills are timely and strongly aligned with the quest for strategic educational progress and sustainable human capital development in Nigeria.
“As the Chairman of this Committee, | acknowledge the need for a purposeful deliberation and positive inputs by the stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector. This Committee has invited you here today to obtain informed opinions and inputs on the Bills for adequate enrichment of the contents and intendment of the proposed Laws“. Mr. Laguda said.
He said that given the uncertainties in the global economy, knowledge and skill in social sciences, technology, entrepreneurship, vocational, and technical education are the panacea to socio-economic development.
He called for the prioritisation and recognition of the importance of establishing the two academic and training institutions for specific purposes of driving economic growth, improving the standard of our youths, creating a platform for skill acquisition, empowering human capital as well as addressing general societal challenges.
“The passage of these Bills into Law would adequately ensure that our youths are technologically empowered to strategically address the complex challenges of
unemployment, wealth or income inequality, and chronic poverty in our society,” he added.
The sponsor of the bill, Mr. Terseer Ugbor, passionately appealed to his colleagues and stakeholders to support the bill establishing the Federal Polytechnic, Adikpo,.
The Public Hearing had contributions from the Academic Staff Union Of Polytechnics, the National Association Of Nigerian Students and other stakeholders.
Confidence Okwuchi
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