As Nigeria continues to face rising unemployment and a widening skills gap, Mrs Oluranti Mary Olufunke Aleem has called for a renewed national focus on technical education to secure the country’s economic future.
Speaking on Wednesday, Aleem, a lecturer at The Polytechnic, Imesi-Ile, Osun State, explained that technical education remains the most reliable route to building a skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of today’s rapidly evolving job market.
According to her, practical skills and hands-on training elements of technical education are the keys to helping young Nigerians become masters in their chosen fields.
She said that while conventional education focuses mainly on theory and academic knowledge, technical education gives learners the tools to contribute to industries immediately.
“Our polytechnics and technical colleges are central to this mission, yet they remain underfunded and poorly staffed,” she noted.
Aleem referenced the World Economic Forum’s 2019 Future of Jobs Report and similar studies by global institutions, which point to a growing demand for workers with specialised technical know-how in areas affected by automation and technological change.
She also pointed to the economic success of countries like China, Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea, commonly referred to as the Asian Tigers, which have invested heavily in technical and vocational training.
According to her, small-scale technological enterprises in these countries significantly drove innovation and industrial growth.
Citing examples like Taiwan’s rise in the semiconductor industry and China’s leadership in renewable energy, Aleem said that Nigeria can achieve similar results by empowering young people through practical education and encouraging small-scale entrepreneurship.
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