Nigeria is not lagging in the establishment of technical education institutions. In fact, it can boast so many across the country, including polytechnics, technical colleges, vocational training centres and specialised institutes. These offer diverse programmes in different fields including engineering, agriculture, health sciences and information technology.
However, beyond the number lies several challenges ranging from inadequate funding to limited infrastructure, outdated equipment, deficiency of learning spaces, curriculum disconnection and shortage of skilled educators.
It was with the intent of surmounting these challenges that stakeholders in the education sector sustained calls for collaborative efforts among governmental bodies, educational institutions and industry experts.
In response to this call, the Federal Government has taken steps to improve the sector through a collaborative effort between the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE). The aim was to bridge the skills gap by strengthening technical and vocational education and training.
At the recent signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono, stated that Nigeria must go beyond rhetoric’s on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and take concrete visible actions.
Although there were various TVET policies over the years, the Echono felt that the country has failed to implement them effectively.
“Many of our polytechnics, which are intended to be the pillars of TVET in this country, are offering courses that have no bearing on TVET. The laboratories, the workshops that they have, often contain obsolete equipment.
“Many do not have the requisite technical staff to man these facilities. We are still grappling with the issue of power and ensuring that production can take place, and that teaching and learning can happen,” he said.
On his part, the President, Nigerian Academy of Engineers, Rahamon Adisa Bello, described the event as a groundbreaking milestone, which marked the beginning of a collaborative effort to promote Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria.
He said the initiative was aimed at bridging the gap in the Nigerian economy by bringing together various agencies and professional bodies to support the government in establishing TVET activities.
Bello also underscored the importance of the collaboration, noting that it would help address the shortage of technicians and artisans in the country. He explained that by working together, stakeholders can create a more robust TVET ecosystem capable of driving economic growth and development.
“It has been established that we have an inverted pyramid in the engineering profession. When we talk about the availability of professionals for development, the lack of technicians and artisans is obvious and needs to be reversed and urgently filled.
“But it is important to note that the Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced the process of reawakening this through the recent launch of the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and the inclusion of the National Skills Qualification that was sworn into the scheme of service in Nigeria,” Bello said.
Also speaking, the President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Margaret Oguntala, said that engineering and technical education were indispensable components of national development.
According to her, a country’s ability to develop and maintain its infrastructure, harness its natural resources and innovate new technologies is inextricably linked to its investment in engineering and technical education.
“The signing of this MoU is long overdue. I am glad that the Executive Secretary has found time for us to sign it. The objective of TVET is very clear – to provide a physical mass of people and their skills for the work. TVET is part of our strategic agenda. The NSE strategic agenda has five pillars, and TVET comes under community impact in pillar number four.
“I believe that with this MoU, we will all be able to chart the path forward for the growth of technical industry, using the technical skills that we have,” she stated.
Reacting, the Vice President, Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Prof. Umar Dambatta, expressed the need for Nigeria to prioritise engineering and technical education by equipping its institutions to provide necessary skills and knowledge required to drive innovation and economic growth.
The former Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) pointed out that by so doing, the country can unlock its full potential and achieve sustainable development.
He insisted that Nigeria must invest in modernising its technical education infrastructure by updating its curriculum and enhancing quality of teaching through professional development programmes for instructors.
He urged stakeholders to create partnerships between educational institutions and industries to relevant in the market.
With the signing of the MoU, stakeholders believed that Nigeria has taken a major leap forward in repositioning technical education to drive economic growth, create jobs and sustainable development.(Guardian)