Education Minister Harps on Revitalisation of Technical and Vocational Education
By Ewache Ajefu
Nigeria”s Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa has emphasized the need to revitalize the Technical and Vocational Education Training( TVET) as part of Ministry’s Six-Point agenda to transform Nigeria’s educational system.
The Minister stated this in his address at a meeting with Rectors, Provosts and Heads of Allied institutions on Monday in Abuja.
The Minister noted that the strategy, adopts the tried and tested pareto rule of 80/20 ratio, favoring practical over theoretical training.
He aaid 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.
According to him, the “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 industrialization and sustainable development”.
In order to achieve this, the Dr Alausa said 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”, he said.
He called on the Federal Colleges of Education 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.
He said the Nation’s 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.
On the relationship with their various Governing Councils, the Minister charged Rectors and Provosts of Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, that their primary responsibilities include the day-to-day administration of your various institutions, safeguarding lives and property and ensuring academic excellence, while maintaining accountability in accordance with the laws that establish and govern these institutions.
He said the Governing Councils on the other hand, are representatives of the President and the ministry with the mandate to provide robust supervision and oversight to ensure their institutions are run properly according to law.
“They are expected to set the tone for institutional excellence, promote good governance, and support the pursuit of academic and infrastructural development”, he said.
He warned that both roles should compliment each other, and will not condone disrecpect from the management of any of the institutions under your purview towards our Governing Councils. You should carry out lawful instructions given to you from the Governing Councils. The ministry will not hesitate to act if you flout lawful instructions or advice from the Councils.
He noted that disagreements and misunderstandings are bound to occur in any human interaction. These should be amicably handled with maturity and according to the Acts setting up your various institutions. Where these measures do not solve the problems, you should write to the ministry promptly to advert further escalation of tension within your institution.
He further warned that there would be consequences for any infraction in this regard, stressing that either party looking down on the order will not be tolerated, as everyone should know their roles and act accordingly.
He called on them to adopt a strategic approach to improve and grow their institutions by focusing on the following areas:
i. Aligning Education to Nigeria’s Needs. You need to:
•. Develop a Skill-Based Curriculum, by updating your academic programs to include skills that address national challenges, such as renewable energy, ICT, manufacturing. Essentially focusing more on STEM and TVET.
•. Align your educational programs with Nigeria’s National Development Plan, ensuring graduates are equipped to contribute to economic diversification and sustainable development.
•. Collaborate with industries to provide students with practical experience through internships and apprenticeship programs.
•. Tailor your acedemic programs to meet local economic, social, and environmental needs while addressing issues like unemployment and climate change.
•. Establish mechanisms to regularly assess graduate employability and industry relevance, using feedback to refine educational strategies.
ii. Education and Food Security. In this regard, you should:
• Integrate agricultural education and food security concepts into technical and vocational training programs, emphasizing sustainable practices, modern technologies, and agribusiness.
• For those institutions with schools of Agriculture, you should establish farms, and agritech centers where students can learn modern farming techniques, food processing, and storage innovations.
•. Collaborate with local communities to promote food production, especially in the area of Poultry farming, where the local community can be engaged for mutual benefit to the host community and beyound.
•. Partner with organizations such as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, agribusiness companies, and international development agencies to provide funding, technical support, and scholarships.
iii. Making Use of Endowments. I will advice that you:
•. Establish Endowment Funds and work with alumni, private sector stakeholders, and philanthropists to set up these funds to support scholarships, infrastructure development, and research.
•. Create a governance framework to manage endowments transparently, ensuring accountability and alignment with institutional goals.
•. Mobilize alumni to contribute financially and offer mentorship or internships for students.
•. Engage in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) projects. You can also leverage corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to secure funding for academic programs, equipment, and faculty development.
iv. Capacity Building. You should:
•. Offer regular training, workshops, and advanced certifications for academic and non-academic staff to enhance their technical and pedagogical skills.
•. Invest in digital tools and infrastructure for teaching, learning, and administrative efficiency, ensuring faculty are trained in their effective use.
•. Develop leadership programs for administrative heads to improve governance, resource management, and strategic planning.
•. Facilitate exchange programs and collaborations with international institutions to expose faculty and students to global best practices.
•. Incorporate entrepreneurial training into the curriculum to empower students and staff to create value in their fields.
v. Research. On this I advice that you:
•. Establish centers of excellence dedicated to key areas like science, technology, engineering amd mathematics education.
•. Partner with industries to identify research needs, secure funding, and translate research findings into practical solutions.
•. Focus research on addressing national priorities, including renewable energy, digital innovation, and infrastructure.
•. Actively seek research grants from local and international funding agencies such as TETFund, African Union Research Grants, and global research bodies.
•. Publish findings in reputable journals, host conferences, and facilitate knowledge-sharing platforms within and beyond Nigeria.
He said by adopting these strategies, Federal polytechnics and Colleges of Education, can position their institutions as engines of national development, fostering innovation, self-reliance, and economic growth in Nigeria.
