NABTEB Registrar Explains Why Vocational Education is the Way Forward

Mohammed Aminu Mohammed (PhD), the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), has reiterated the importance of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Nigeria’s development. Speaking with reporters in Minna after supervising ongoing entrance examinations for about 30,000 students into technical colleges nationwide, Mohammed stated that TVET is the key to equipping Nigerians with skills that can help them earn a living and contribute to the country’s economic growth.

Mohammed stated that the Federal Government is taking steps to devalue paper qualifications and focus on skills development. He noted that countries like China, Singapore, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates have successfully leveraged TVET to drive economic growth. “We will do our best to engage major stakeholders to improve and ensure that there will be enough participation in the TVET exercise because the country is taking a new dimension.

“The direction the country is taking now, we are going to devalue paper qualifications and focus on what you can do to earn a living. For example, from the 2020 COVID exercise, everybody has come to realise that you must not depend on a white-collar job. TVET is Technical and Vocational Education and Training. This exercise highlights the need for additional skills. People should learn handwork. It is about what you can do. What can you contribute to the society? We do not need to be 100% dependent on the government for us to survive. Upon graduation, I do not need to wait for the government to offer me a job. I should be able to establish something on my own to do. Every country you visit in the world today has its attention focused on TVET. Is it talking about China? Are you talking about Singapore? Let me tell you, Singapore is in a desert. Dubai is in a desert. Nevertheless, they are surviving because of the TVET programme. Then Nigeria, if we encourage TVET, we will enjoy it better than any other country in the world,” he said.

The NABTEB boss stressed the benefits of TVET, including entrepreneurship, self-reliance, and the ability to contribute to society. He encouraged Nigerians to take advantage of TVET programmes to acquire skills and improve their employability. “The gap is huge, and the government is bringing these young people into technical colleges to bridge the gap,” he said. “Let me tell you, I will cite an example of Indonesia. In Indonesia, there is a one-year programme for skill training, irrespective of your background.”