The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has commended President Bola Tinubu for giving strong attention to technical and vocational training in the country.
The Executive Secretary of NBTE, Professor Idris Bugaje, made the remarks during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. He stated that the past two years have brought about a significant turnaround for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria.
Bugaje described the current investment in technical education as the best the country has seen since the civil war. He noted that while Nigeria paid good attention to skills development before the 1970s, that focus was lost during the oil boom years.
“These two years have been the best for TVET in Nigeria’s history since the civil war. Before the civil war, the TVET sector experienced numerous innovations, which received considerable attention. But since the oil boom of the 1970s, TVET has been largely neglected. It is only now that the federal government is giving it the attention it deserves,” he said.
Bugaje also commended the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, for implementing far-reaching programmes and innovations in the TVET sector.
He described Alausa as “a medical doctor with a profound knowledge of the education sector.”
Initially, Bugaje admitted he questioned the choice of a medical doctor as a minister, expecting perhaps an architect or engineer. However, he soon realised that medical training is also hands-on, and that background has influenced Alausa’s appreciation of the importance of developing practical skills.
He expressed hope that this current momentum would be sustained over the next six years, allowing TVET to become deeply rooted and serve as a foundation for Nigeria’s industrialisation drive.
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