By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Federal Government has reiterated its resolve to add skills learning and acquisition to academic programmes of tertiary institutions so that students will not just be presented with paper certificates after graduation but also be armed with sellable expertise.
Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, speaking on Monday in Abuja at an interactive session with the Provosts of Federal Colleges of Education and Rectors of Federal Polytechnics, called on tertiary institutions across the country to ensure that graduates possess market-relevant skills critical to Nigeria’s industrialization and sustainable development.
He revealed that one of the things the government is doing to strengthen technical education in Nigeria is to establish a National Commission for Technical Education.
Alaussa insisted that the era of producing unemployable graduates by tertiary institutions was over, calling on all the institutions to embrace the Federal Government’s agenda to transform Nigeria’s education system to deliver high-quality education and training across Nigeria.
He noted that the current administration is focused revitalisation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) while adopting a strategy that is tried and tested, Pareto rule of 80/20 ratio, favouring practical over theoretical training, the Minister emphasised in the new education curriculum.
He said: “This new curriculum is designed to equip students with the hands-on skills required to thrive in today’s dynamic workforce. By aligning academic programs with industry demands, TVET prepares students for careers in high-impact sectors such as ICT, carpentry, electrical installations, and advanced manufacturing.
“This innovative approach is designed not only to tackle low enrollment in our technical institutions but also to ensure that graduates possess market-relevant skills critical to Nigeria’s industrialisation and sustainable development.
“To achieve this, the Ministry has forged strategic partnerships with private sector players, including the Bank of Industry (BOI) and NELFUND. These partnerships provide funding, resources, and internship opportunities that will foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and employability.
“In addition to this, another important priority of our agenda is dedicated to enhancing education quality assurance, with a particular focus on Teacher Production, Development, and Professionalism. Teachers are the cornerstone of any effective education system, and our goal is to address gaps in teacher preparation.
“Federal Colleges of Education are expected to lead the charge by implementing rigorous pre-service training and continuous professional development programs that prepare teachers to excel in an evolving educational landscape.
“Similarly, our Polytechnics and Allied Institutions must prioritize the development of technical instructors equipped with modern pedagogical skills and aligned with global standards.
“These efforts are crucial to building an education system that surpasses accreditation benchmarks and produces graduates who make significant contributions to national progress,” the Minister stated.
Speaking on food security, the Minister urged the Colleges of Education and Polytechnics to integrate agricultural education and food security concepts into technical and vocational training programmes, emphasizing sustainable practices, modern technologies, and agribusiness.
He said:”For those institutions with schools of Agriculture, you should establish farms, and agritech centres where students can learn modern farming techniques, food processing, and storage innovations.”
