NBTE hails Ogun’s vocational training

The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Idris Bugaje, has lauded the Ogun State government for prioritising technical education to create jobs, best the poverty cycle and expand the frontier of economic prosperity of the state.

Bugaje, represented by the Director of Curriculum Development, Musa Koko, gave this commendation at the opening ceremony of the Critique and Validation Workshop for six National Occupational Standards and the final critique for five National Technical Certificates held in Abeokuta, the state capital.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Communication Officer of Ogun State Economic Transformation Project, Mrs Simbo Olayinka, the NBTE boss lauded the state for “being a front-runner in conducting industry needs assessments across technical colleges, with a strong focus on priority areas under the World Bank-assisted Ogun State Economic Transformation Project”.

Bugaje added, “Ogun State deserve a pat on the back for the significant strides in the development of its technical and vocational education.

“The state’s proactive approach serves as a model for others to emulate and aligns with the core mandates of the NBTE to empower Nigerians with technical skills and vocational training that could make them stand on their own, be employers of labour and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the country’s economy”.

Speaking at the five-day event, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Moriamo Oloko, stated that the state was proud to host the landmark initiative, which contributes to the design and refinement of five National Technical Certificates and six National Occupational Standards.

Represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Temitope Lasilo, the Permanent Secretary highlighted that one of the standards under review was Adire, an indigenous craft now gaining global recognition as a symbol of cultural creativity and economic potential.

She urged participants, comprising industry experts, policymakers, development partners, and stakeholders from across the country, to approach the process with clarity and foresight, to develop curricula that empower learners and reflect both modern industry demands and emerging cultural trends.

The OGSTEP Project Coordinator, Mrs. Mosunmola Owo-Odusi, explained that the initiative aligns with the state’s vision to revamp technical and vocational education.

Mrs Owo-Odusi noted that, with the rapid growth of industries in the State, it has become imperative to equip individuals with the right technical skills to meet evolving industry needs.

She disclosed that OGSTEP has so far rehabilitated no fewer than 158 buildings across the state’s eight government-owned technical colleges and is currently equipping workshops and laboratories to enhance practical training.

Owo-Odusi emphasised that OGSTEP’s intervention goes beyond infrastructure (hardware), as teachers have also been trained in specific trade areas (software), and the non-formal education sector is being revamped in line with the applicable standard.

Giving an overview of the curriculum, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Technical and Vocational Education Board, Mrs. Mojisola Adenowo, highlighted some new trades introduced into the curriculum of technical colleges in the state.

Some of these new trades are Construction/Ornamental Craft, Embellishment Craft, Automation/Mechatronics Craft, Agronomy Craft, Fashion/Textile Machine Repair Craft, Adire Making Craft, among others.

Mrs Adenowo acknowledged the support of the OGSTEP in terms of capacity building for instructors, provision of infrastructure, and supply of equipment, among others.

She added that the goal of the ongoing critique and validation workshop is to ensure curriculum relevance, improve educational outcomes, meet industry demands, and ultimately contribute to the nation’s economic growth.

The Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board and former Acting Executive Secretary of OGSTVEB, Mr. Olubori Akinleye, urged participants at the training to remain committed to the process of refining the curricula, stressing that their input was critical to shaping a future-ready workforce that can drive sustainable development across the country.