By Zainab Bakare
The Federal Government has inaugurated the Governing Board of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), ending more than five years without a board.
It also unveiled a new reform agenda to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, described the event as “another significant milestone in the implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
He said the administration was committed to building a globally competitive workforce, adding, “I am confident that the calibre of individuals appointed will provide the strategic leadership required to strengthen NBTE’s mandate, deepen reforms across the technical education sector and accelerate the Federal Government’s vision of building a globally competitive workforce.”
Alausa stressed that technical education must be treated as a national priority, saying, “No nation can achieve meaningful industrialisation without a strong base of technicians, technologists, artisans, fabricators, automation specialists, machine operators and other skilled professionals.”
He directed the new board to work with stakeholders to fast-track the Recognition of Prior Learning programme for skilled artisans and ordered a review of technical education curricula to incorporate emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, automation and advanced manufacturing.
The minister also urged prudent management of public funds, stating, “Public resources, capital projects, intervention funds, research initiatives and institutional investments must translate into measurable improvements in skills acquisition, institutional performance, youth employment and national productivity.”
Responding on behalf of the board, Chairman Prof. Babatunde Salako pledged to reposition technical education, saying, “This inauguration marks the beginning of a new chapter for technical education in Nigeria. We will work diligently to expand opportunities for young Nigerians to acquire relevant technical skills, promote innovation and nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs and job creators.”
He added, “We must encourage parents, students and society to embrace TVET as a respected pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and national development.”
NBTE Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, described the inauguration as “a landmark achievement,” noting that the agency had operated without a governing board for more than five years. He said, “This is a landmark achievement that reflects the Honourable Minister’s decisive leadership and unwavering commitment to repositioning technical education in Nigeria.”
