By Augustine Okezie
The Federal Government has restated its commitment to create youth employment and ensure sustainable development, through the promotion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), by releasing the sum of N12.4b to 51 federal and state polytechnics.
It has also approved the supply of equipment for the rehabilitation of the nation’s technical colleges at the sum of N6 billion in addition to the N15 billion already spent on the rehabilitation of the technical laboratories of 51 polytechnics.
The supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, gave the commitment in Abuja during the Commonwealth Association of Polytechnics in Africa (CAPA)conference whose theme is: ‘’International Developing Competent Work-Force for Agriculture and Manufacturing Industries In Africa: The Role of TVET.”
The minister who was represented by the permanent secretary, Macjohn Nwaobiala, restated that creating employment remains a priority for the government and the first step towards this was by ensuring that the youths have the requisite skills to support the industries.
He said government was aware of the importance of education, especially human capital development, to the long-term development of the country.
His words: “To further support the development of TVET, the National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF) has been approved by the Federal Executive Council.
“National Occupations Standards are being developed in a number of industrial areas including manufacturing, construction, ICT, hotel and hospitality and agriculture, ’’ he said.
