In a decisive move to enhance the quality and relevance of technical education in Nigeria, the Honorable Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has called for the nation’s technical Colleges to return to their original purpose of establishment.
The Minister made this call recently at the Stakeholders Meeting on the Challenges and Issues Affecting Technical Colleges in Nigeria, emphasizing the need to refocus on vocational training and skill development to meet the demands of the modern workforce.
Prof. Mamman highlighted the critical role technical Colleges play in the nation’s educational and economic landscape. He noted that these institutions were initially established to provide practical skills and technical knowledge essential for the industrial and technological advancement of Nigeria.
Earlier, the Honorable Minister of Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, echoed that the original purpose of our technical Colleges was to equip students with hands-on skills and technical expertise, preparing them for immediate employment and contributing to the nation’s development.
“However, over the years, many of these institutions have deviated from this mission, leading to a gap between education and industry needs,” Dr. Sununu stated.
The Ministers proposed several strategic measures to realign technical Colleges with their foundational goals, including revamping the curriculum to emphasize practical skills and industry relevance, strengthening industry partnerships to offer real-world experience and job placements, investing in modern facilities and equipment for a better learning environment, and enhancing the training and professional development of instructors to ensure they stay current with industry standards.
Also speaking, Permanent Secretary Dr. Sani Gwarzo called on stakeholders, including state governments, private sector partners, and international donors, to support these initiatives. He stressed the importance of a collaborative effort to transform technical education in Nigeria and produce a workforce capable of driving the country’s industrial growth.
Dr. Gwarzo emphasized that this call to action comes at a crucial time when Nigeria is striving to diversify its economy and reduce unemployment rates. By realigning technical Colleges with their original mandate, the Ministry of Education aims to produce graduates who are not only academically qualified but also possess the practical skills needed in today’s competitive job market.
The stakeholders’ meeting brought together representatives from government agencies, principals of Federal Science Technical Colleges, School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) chairmen, and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairmen—all united in their commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s technical education sector.
Folasade Boriowo
Director (Press & PR)
