Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Wednesday, called for more attention to be paid to technical and vocational education as a way to boosting Nigeria’s development.
“It is no longer sufficient for our educational institutions to merely impart theoretical knowledge, we must also equip our youth with practical skills that will enable them to thrive in an ever-evolving job market,” Abbas said.
H e spoke when he declared open a public hearing on some bills seeking to establish a commission and some special polytechnics in some parts of the country.
The bills were seeking the establishment of the National Polytechnic Commission, the Federal Vocational and Entrepreneurship Institute in Okota, Oshodi, Lagos state, and the Federal Vocational and Skills Acquisition College in Yankaba, Kano state.
“The establishment of these institutions is a testament to our resolve to bridge the gap between education and employment.
“These initiatives are not merely legislative proposals, they represent a commitment to our nation’s future-a future where education serves as a cornerstone for economic growth, social mobility, and national development. The establishment of these institutions will ensure that quality education in science, skills, arts, technical and vocational training becomes accessible to all Nigerians,” the speaker said.
He stated further that in recent years, there has been an increasing recognition of the critical role that technical and vocational education plays in national development.
Chairman of the committee, Faud Kayode Laguda, in his remarks earlier said that each of the bills is tailored towards enacting laws that will bring about the much needed improvement in the socio-economic development of the country.
Making submissions at the hearing, chairman of the Senate Committee on Higher Education, Mukta Dan-Dutse, said it is time for Nigeria to develop more institutional educational programmes that would benefit generations yet unborn, promising to ensure the speedy passage of the bills when they get to the Senate.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Sani Gwarzo, said the ministry was fully in support of the bills, even as other stakeholders in the education sector also expressed support for the proposed laws.