The state of technical education in Nigeria is a mixed bag. On one hand, there has been significant growth in enrollment in technical education programmes, with many students opting for practical, industry-relevant training, rather than all round theory-based courses.
In fact, the country has a wide array of technical institutions, including polytechnics, technical colleges, vocational training centers and specialised institutes, offering diverse programmes in such fields as engineering, agriculture, health sciences and information technology.
But despite this progress, technical education in the country faces several challenges, including inadequate funding, limited infrastructure, obsolete equipment, insufficient learning spaces, curriculum disconnection, scarcity of skilled educators among several other difficulties.
To overcome these challenges, stakeholders in the education sector have called for collaborative efforts among governmental bodies, educational institutions and industry experts.
There has also been clamour for increased investment in infrastructure, curriculum modernisation and instructor development to enhance the relevance and effectiveness of technical education across the country.
To this end, the Federal Government is taking steps to enhance the sector through a collaborative effort between the Arc. Sonny Echono-led Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE).
This partnership aims to bridge the skills gap in the country by strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). It is expected to have a significant impact on Nigeria’s technical industry as it will facilitate the development of skilled professionals, who can contribute to the country’s technological advancement.
Pundits held that by promoting TVET, Nigeria can reduce its reliance on foreign expertise and develop a more sustainable, self-sufficient economy.The Fund has allocated resources in its 2025 Intervention Guidelines to address the skills gap with a focus on revitalizing technical education to drive job creation and economic growth.
The partnership between the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and Nigerian Academy of Engineering, was formally solidified through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja recently, marking a significant milestone in the quest to revitalize Nigeria’s technical industry.
This strategic collaboration was designed to pave way for the growth and development of the technical sector, with a focus on promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and skills development.
The exercise represented a commitment from both parties to work together in addressing the challenges facing the technical industry in Nigeria. By pooling their resources and expertise, TETFund and the Nigerian Academy of Engineering aimed to create a vibrant ecosystem that supports the growth of indigenous technologies, fosters a culture of innovation and develops a skilled workforce that can drive the country’s economic development.
Through this partnership, both organisations will collaborate on various initiatives, including research and development, capacity building and advocacy. They will also work together to identify and address the skills gaps in the technical industry by developing programmes that promote vocational training, apprenticeships and entrepreneurship. Ultimately, the goal of this partnership is to position Nigeria’s technical industry as a key driver of economic growth, job creation and sustainable development.
Speaking at the MoU-signing ceremony, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, emphasised that Nigeria must move beyond mere discussions on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and take concrete visible actions.
Despite introducing various TVET policies over the years, Echono noted that the country has largely failed to implement them effectively. He decried that it has rather continued to pay “lip service to the concept of promoting TVET.”
Adding: “Many of our polytechnics, which are intended to be the pillars of TVET in this country, are offering courses that have no bearing on TVET. The laboratories, the workshops that they have, often contain obsolete equipment.
“Many do not have the requisite technical staff to man these facilities. We are still grappling with the issue of power and ensuring that production can take place, and that teaching and learning can happen.”
Echono noted that the MoU signified the framework for collaboration in multifaceted fields in TVET. According to him, it would intensify efforts to address the challenge of hearing criticisms in the media about technical education sector not contributing enough to the development of the country.
“We are not going to take offense. We will sit down, work and ensure that we counter some of these statements. That is the way to respond. And I believe that with the support of the rest of our country, with the active support of all the agencies involved, including the legislature and the executive branch, we will get there”, he added.
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